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'  Hill  1 1  IIIII  in  iinii  inn  inn  mi 
153    MMfl 


Donald  Robertson  Edition 


The  Triumph 
of  Youth 


EDOUARD  PAILLE,RON 


SERGEL'S 


ACTING 


DRAMA 


THE, 

PUBLISHED     BY 

DRAMATIC  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

CHARLES    H  3ERGGL.    .    PRESIDENT 

i 

THE 
TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

OR 

THE  WHITE  MOUSE 

A  COMEDY  IN  THREE  ACTS 

FROM  THE  FRENCH  OF  EDOUARD  PAILLERON 
BY 

DONALD  ROBERTSON 


COPYRIGHT,  18%.  1907.  BY  DONALD  ROBERTSON 


CHICAGO 
THE  DRAMATIC  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


GARRICK  THEATRE,  CHICAGO, 
OCT.  8,  1907. 

CAST  OF  CHARACTERS. 

MARQUIS  MAX  DE  SIMIERS.  .Donald  Robertson 

MONSIEUR  MOISAND James  Nelson 

COUNTESS  CLOTILDE  WOISKA,  his  daughter. 

Anna  Titus 

MADEMOISELLE  MARTHA  DE  BERRON,  step- 
sister to  Clotilde Florence  E.  Bradley 

MADEMOISELLE  PEPA  RIMBAND,  friend  of 

Clotilde  Alice  John 

MADAME  HERMINE  DE  SAGANCY,  friend  of 

Clotilde Yvonne  de  Kerstrat 

PLACE:  In  a  village  removed  from  Paris. 
TIME:  The  Present. 
[Scene  during  three  acts  laid  in  a  reception  room 

in  the  house  of  M.  MOISAND.] 
NOTICE. — The  professional  acting  rights  of 
this  play  are  reserved  by  the  author,  from 
whom  written  permission  must  be  obtained  be- 
fore performance.  All  persons  giving  un- 
authorized productions  will  be  prosecuted  to  the 
full  extent  of  the  law.  This  notice  does  not 
apply  to  amateurs,  who  may  perform  the  play 
without  permission. 


M510529 


THE  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 


ACT  I. 

[At  rise  enter  HERMINE  AND  MOISAND.] 

MOISAND.  Oh,  come  in,  come  in;  I  am  sure 
this  is  a  delightful  surprise.  Are  you  going  to 
rest  there,  Mile.  Rimband.  [Looking  off.]  To 
recover  your  breath  after  climbing  the  hill — I'm 
sure  you  found  the  road  very  rough. 

HERMINE.  I  find  every  road  rough, — I'm  not 
very  strong. 

Mois.  Ah !  in  the  country  here  you  will  soon 
recover  your  strength.  The  view  I  can  show 
you  will  make  amends  for  your  trouble, — don't 
look  yet — are  you  in  pain  ? 

HER.  These  dreadful  palpitations ;  I  suffer  ter- 
ribly. [Drops  down  R.  Sits  at  table.]  Do  you 
think  the  Countess  will  soon  be  back? 

Mois.  I  am  sure  she  will — she  has  only  gone 
to  the  village,  and  what  a  delightful  surprise  it 
will  be  for  her  [Drops  down  R.  above  table  to 
armchair,  and  sits.]  on  her  return  to  meet  two 
of  her  old  friends,  —  Madame  Sagancy  and 
3 


4  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

Mademoiselle  Rimband,  —  Pepa  Rimbaud  —  I 
assure  you  Clotilde  never  mentions  Paris  with- 
out thinking  of  you, — Mademoiselle  Rimband  is 
a  relative  of  yours,  is  she  not? 

HER.  Of  mine?  No — she  is  the  daughter  of 
a  Parisian  sculptor  —  and  her  mother  was 
Spanish. 

Mois.    Of  foreign  extraction,  eh? 

HER.  Yes, — she  calls  herself  a  mixture  of 
the  mountains  and  boulevards. 

Mois.     That  accounts  for  her  oddities. 

HER.  Oh,  she  was  badly  brought  up;  her 
mother  died  early — she  lacks  refinement  [Glances 
around.] — nay,  she  may  even  be  said  to  be  vulgar 
— but  her  name  is  on  every  one's  tongue — and 
some  find  her  highly  amusing — especially  the 
men,  who  pretend  to  find  in  her  a  true  child  of 
nature. 

Mois.  How  interesting!  How  very  interest- 
ing! Then  she  ought  to  enjoy  the  country — 
call  her — see,  from  this  point  the  view  is  best. 
Look.  [Rises,  crosses  R.  C.  to  window.} 

HER.  The  dream  of  a  painter, — the  ideal  of 
a  poet — come,  Pepa  dear — come  and  enjoy  it,  too. 
[Crosses  and  joins  Mois.  at  window.] 

Mois.    On  the  right  is  the  castle;  do  you  see? 

HER.  Delightful,  perfectly  enchanting.  Come, 
Pepa,  come  [Enter  back  R.  C.  PEPA]  ;  why  have 
you  waited  so  long? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  5 

PEPA.  Why?  You  ask  why?  Don't  you  see 
I'm  gone  to  pieces.  We've  been  tramping  in 
the  broiling  sun  for  an  hour — climbing  up  a  hill, 
over  broken  ground,  till  I'm  frizzled,  and  when 
I  sit  down  to  rest  a  minute  you  cooly  ask  me 
why  I  have  waited  so  long.  Upon  my  word 
[Sits  down  table  L.],  you  are  refreshing.  Look 
at  the  mess  my  boots  are  in. 
[HER.  sits  at  table  R.  Mois.  drops  down  C.] 

HER.  [To  Moisand.]  It's  proof  positive  we 
really  love  the  Countess,  your  daughter — 

PEPA.  I  should  think  so,  dear  Clotilde — to 
pay  her  a  visit  with  the  thermometer  at  90  in 
the  shade,  and  five  miles  from  the  blessing  of  a 
wooden  pavement. 

HER.    I  only  left  my  bed — 

PEPA.  Never  mind  about  your  bed,  dear — 
it's  warm  enough  here — the  dust  and  the  heat — 
dear — dear — 

Mois.  I  am  sure  in  the  country  here  when 
the  weather  is  fine — 

PEPA.  When  the  weather  is  fine  the  mud  is 
dry, — when  the  weather  is  bad  the  mud  is  wet, — 
but  in  all  conditions  and  at  all  times  it  always 
remains  just  what  it  is — dirt.  What  dear 
Clotilde  finds  to  amuse  herself  with  here  I  can't 
imagine — and  where  is  she  now? — at  a  picnic 
or  a  promenade? 

Mois.     She — poor  thing — no — she's  paying  a 


6  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

visit  m  the  village  to  one  of  our  farm  laborers 
who  broke  his  arm. 

HER.  How  horrible!  I  don't  see  how  she 
can  go  among  such  misery — /  can't  bear  to 
watch  the  pain  of  others,  I  who  suffer  so  much 
myself.  [Rises,  sits  again.] 

PEPA.  Oh,  come,  I  say,  sit  down.  It's  not 
bad  fun  at  all  [Crosses  L.]  playing  nurse — I've 
tried  it  myself.  Two  years  ago  my  cousin 
founded  a  retreat  for  widows — 

HER.    Really,  Pepa— 

PEPA.  I  was  one  of  the  matrons — I  wore  a 
tight-fitting  [Slowly  returning  R.],  very  tight- 
fitting  gray  dress — a  white  apron  and  a  muslin 
cap — I  enjoyed  it  immensely — at  first.  Bye-and- 
bye  they  enlarged  the  institution,  and  took  in 
grass-widows, — the  patients  became  too  numer- 
ous,— I  had  no  time  to  myself — so  I  gave  it  up 
— oh — but  talking  of  [Sits  again.]  grass-widows 
— tell  us  before  Clotilde  comes  back,  how  is  her 
husband,  your  son-in-law;  is  he  still  in  confine- 
ment? 

MOISAND.    Alas!  yes. 

PEPA.     Still  in  the  same  cracked  state? 

Mois.  Just  as  he  has  been  for  the  last  fifteen 
months. 

PEPA.  Think  of  it — what  a  dreadful  situation 
for  poor  Clotilde ! 

HER.    Who  can  understand  it  better  than  I  ? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  7 

Mois.    What  does  she  mean?     [To  Pepa.] 

PEPA.  Oh,  she  is  a  bewitched  widow,  too 
[To  H ermine]  ;  but  your  case  is  entirely  differ- 
ent— you  can  get  a  divorce  whenever  you  want 
one;  but  as  for  poor  Clotilde — the  lawyers  in 
France  have  decided  that  madness  is  such  a 
common  ailment  among  men  it  is  not  sufficient 
grounds — and  to  be  tied  to  a  soft-brained  booby ! 

HER.    Really,  Pepa? 

PEPA.  Yes— "really,  Pepa"— perhaps  that 
may  not  be  the  scientific  name  for  a  madman — 
but  it's  the  truth,  and  to  my  thinking  it's  simply 
atrocious — it  was  bad  enough  when  her  husband 
had  his  wits,  Heaven  knows, — a  gambler — a 
roue — a  rake, — but  now  it  makes  me  blaze — ouf ! 
— and  it's  terribly  hot — 

Mois.  Oh,  my  dear  friends,  pardon  me  for 
forgetting;  what  refreshments  may  I  have  the 
pleasure  of  offering  you  ? 

HER.    Nothing,  nothing  at  all,  thanks. 

PEPA.    /  am  dreadfully  thirsty. 

Mois.    What  may  I  offer? 

PEPA.    Anything  that's  wet  and  cold. 

Mois.  [Going.]  You'll  forgive  me  for  being 
so  forgetful? 

HER.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  for  us  to  apologize 
for  disturbing  you.  [Rises,  crosses  C.] 

PEPA.  Yes,  yes,  and  now  we'll  join  your  other 
guests.  [Rises,  going  up  L.  to  Mois.] 


8  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

Mois.     My  guests?    I  have  none. 

PEPA.  You  mean  Clotilde  has  lived  here  aione 
for  fifteen  months  ? 

Mois.  Alone  with  me,- — yes. 

PEPA.  Poor  thing,  and  she  has  seen  no  com- 
pany ? 

Mois.  Only  an  occasional  visit  from  the  curate 
— dear  me,  I'm  forgetting  again  your  refresh- 
ments— I'll  be  back  directly.  [Exit  L.] 

PEPA.  Well,  here's  a  pretty  state  of  things — 
Clotilde  gone  [Drops  to  C.]  in  for  tragedy.  We 
made  a  mistake  in  having  our  trunks  sent  after 
us  from  the  station. 

HER.  What  had  we  better  do  now? 

PEPA.  Make  our  escape,  of  course,  if  we  can. 
[Enter  Moisand  with  tray  of  glasses.]  How 
kind  of  you  to  take  so  much  trouble.  [Taking 
glass.]  Quite  cold,  is  it?  [Drop  down  L.,  drinks 
at  window.  H ermine  drops  down  R.  ] 

Mois.  Yes,  quite  cold — iced.  [To  H  ermine.] 
Will  you  have  some?  [Crosses  to  table  L.  Puts 
down  tray.] 

HER.   Thank  you;  no,  I'm  never  thirsty. 

PEPA.  Oh,  Hermine  is  an  ethereal  creature, 
and  lives  on  air.  I  require  something  more  sub- 
stantial. 

HER.  [To  Pepa.]  Hem — Hem —  [Indicating 
((let  us  go."  Crosses  around  table  R.] 


TRIUMPH  OF  ybUTH  9 

PEPA.  [To  Moisand.]  That  has  made  me  feel 
quite  comfortable.  [Sits  sofa.] 

Mois.  Providence  has  sent  you,  I  am  sure. 
[Her mine  sits.]  I  know  you  both  [Crosses  to  C.] 
love  Clotilde — and  I  want  your  advice.  You  can 
render  her  and  me  a  great  service.  A  serious 
complication  has  arisen  in  her  life,  a  great  danger 
in  fact.  Wait,  I'll  send  the  White  Mouse  for  her 
and  you  shall  hear  all. 

PEPA.  The  White  Mouse,  did  you  say  ? 

Mois.  Yes,  little  Martha. 

PEPA.  Another  daughter? 

Mois.  No,  not  my  own, — my  second  wife's 
child  by  her  first  husband. 

PEPA.  What's  that?  Your  second  wife's  first 
child? — I  mean — first  marriage — by — I  did  not 
quite  catch  that — your  first — what  relation  is  she 
to  you  ? 

Mois.  Don't  you  understand? — my  step- 
daughter. 

HER.   Why  called  the  White  Mouse? 

Mois.  I  really  don't  know,  except  that  no  one 
ever  hears  her  come  or  sees  her  go.  Clotilde 
brought  her  from  the  convent  a  fortnight  ago, 
and  she  has  been  hiding  in  corners  ever  since. 

PEPA.   How  old  is  she? 

Mois.  Seventeen. 

PEPA.   Is  she  pretty? 

Mois.   At  present — rather  insignificant — bash- 


io  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

ful,  and  awkward — you  understand — has  nothing 
to  say  for  herself. 

PEPA.  And  so,  like  the  blind  fiddler's  dog, 
keeps  up  a  great  deal  of  thinking. 

[Enter  MARTHA  unobserved.} 

Mois.  I  have  reason  to  believe —  [Sees 
Martha.]  How  did  you  get  here?  How  long 
have  you  been  here?  Now,  ladies,  you  see  the 
White  Mouse, — always  the  same, — one  never 
hears  her  approach.  For  my  part,  I  detest  this 
sort  of  thing.  Where  did  you  come  from? 

MARTHA.  From  the  river. 

Mois.  Do  you  know  if  the  Countess  will  soon 
be  home? 

MAR.  At  four  o'clock. 

Mois.  Did  she  tell  you  so? 

MAR.  No. 

Mois.  Well,  well,  speak,  child ;  one  has  always 
to  drag  the  words  from  you. 

PEPA.    [Aside.]    What  a  loving  step-father! 

MAR.  She  intends  to  go  riding. 

Mois.  With  you  ? 

MAR.   I  don't  know. 

Mois.   With  Monsieur  Max? 

PEPA  AND  HER.    [Aside.]    Monsieur  Max. 

MAR.   I  think  so. 

Mois.  In  that  case  you  go  with  them.  Do 
you  know  where  she  is  now? 

MAR.  At  Colbert's,  I  think 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  11 

Mois.  Then  run  and  fetch  her. 

PEPA.  In  this  heat  ? — pray,  send  a  man-servant. 

Mois.  No — no — by  no  means — she  can  run 
faster.  [H ermine  rises,  drops  down  R.]  Now 
be  off— 

MAR.   But  I— I  think— 

Mois.  What  is  it  now  vou  little  goose — you 
think— 

MAR.  That  some  one  has  already  gone. 

Mois.  When,  pray? 

MAR.   An  hour  ago. 

Mois.   Monsieur  Max? 

MAR.   I  don't  know, — I  think  so. 

Mois.  Dear  me — dear  me — then  run  the  faster 
— not  by  the  [Working  up  R.]  woods — take  the 
high  road — I'll  show  you  the  way. 

PEPA.  [To  Martha.]  At  least  take  my  sun- 
shade. [Rises,  crosses  R.] 

Mois.  No,  no,  at  her  age  the  sun  does  her 
good.  [Snatches  sketch-book  from  Martha  tJiat 
is  sticking  out  of  her  pocket.]  What  is  this, 
young  lady — 

PEPA  AND  HER.    What  is  it? 

Mois.   He — a  sketch-book. 

MAR.  Oh,  Monsieur.    [Trying  to  obtain  it.] 

Mois.  Stay  a  moment;  we  will  examine  it 
first.  [Turns  round,  Martha  following.] 

MAR.  [Still  trying.]  Oh,  Monsieur,  I  beg  of 
you — I  beg — 


12  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

Mois.   Be  quiet,  I  insist. 

PEPA  AND  HER.  [Interposing.}  Really,  Mon- 
sieur. [H 'ermine  rises.] 

Mois.   Nonsense,  this  is  all  affectation. 

MAR.    For  pity's  sake,  I  implore  you. 

PEPA.  Really,  Monsieur,  any  one  ;can  see  the 
child  is  in  earnest.  [Snatches  book  from  Moi- 
sand  and  gives  it  to  Martha;  crosses  C.]  There, 
my  dear,  now  keep  it. 

Mois.  What  a  fuss, — what  a  fuss  about  noth- 
ing! Will  you  hasten  and  bring  back  Clotilde, 
or  be  disobedient  in  that  also.  [Martha  going.] 
Wait,  wait,  and  I'll  show  [Crosses  up  R.]  you 
the  way.  These  ladies  will  have  a  fine  opinion 
of  your  character, — fine  opinion —  [Exit  Moi- 
sand  and  Martha.] 

HER.  Poor  little  Cinderella.  [Crosses  up  R.  C., 
looking  off  after  them.] 

PEPA.  I  wonder  why  such  an  old  bear  as  that 
is  called  a  step-father.  [Also  looking  off  up 
R.C.] 

HER.  I  haven't  an  idea.    [Crosses  down  L.] 

PEPA.    Not  because  he's  a  step  in  the  right 
direction,  surely.     [Following.  ] 
HER.    Really,  Pepa. 

PEPA.  Perhaps  because  he  treads  her  down. 
[Following.] 

HER.  Oh,  Pepa. 

[Enter  MOISAND  R.\ 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  13 

Mois.  Now,  ladies,  I  am  quite  at  your  service. 
[Drops  down  L.] 

PEP  A.  Are  you?  Well,  tell  us,  who  is  Mon- 
sieur Max?  [H ermine  and  Pepa  sit.] 

Mois.  Be  seated,  ladies,  and  I  will  explain  all 
— now  I'll  open  my  heart  to  you,  for  I  am  in 
great  distress.  [Sits  R.  of  table.] 

PEPA.  Then  by  all  means,  Monsieur,  confide 
in  us. 

Mois.  Alas,  alas.  That  fatal  marriage  of  my 
daughter's.  It  was  my  second  wife — 

HER.   Your  second?     [Bus.] 

Mois.    Yes,  my  second — you  know  my  first — 

PEPA.   Oh — Your  first?     [Bus.  continued.] 

Mois.  Yes,  my  first  wife  was  Clotilde's  mother, 
— but  it  was  my  second  wife,  and  not  my  first, 
who  arranged  Clotilde's  marriage. 

PEPA.    [Aside.]     Oh,  dear,  what  a  rigarole — 

Mois.  And  the  charming  nobleman  to  whom 
she  married  my  daughter,  turned  out  to  be  a 
rake  of  the  wildest  description. 

PEPA  AND  HER.  Oh,  indeed.    [HanU  bus.] 

Mois.  Oh,  yes;  he  paid  attention  to  every 
woman  he  met,  if  you  can  conceive  such"  a  thing. 

PEPA.  Of  course  I  can — easily — so  can  you, 
Hermine  dear,  can't  you  ? 

Mois.  What! — did  he  dare  to  address  you, 
the  friends  of  his  wife? — horrible! 

PEPA.    [Suppressed  laughter.]    Oh— 


I4  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

Mois.  That  was  by  no  means  all — but  every- 
thing was  fully  reported  to  me — I  learned  all. 

PEPA.   How? 

Mois.    In  the  usual  way, — from  the  servants. 

PEPA.  Then  he  was  going  the  pace,  eh? 

Mois.  The  pace  ? 

PEPA.  Yes ;  he  was  rapid,  I  mean. 

Mois.  So  rapid  that  at  the  end  of  three  years 
he  found  himself  fast  in  a  lunatic  asylum. 

HER.  Poor  Clotilde! — what  a  future  for  her 
to  look  forward  to! 

Mois.  She  has  been  living  with  me  ever  since. 

PEPA.  I  know  what  I'd  prefer.   [Aside.] 

Mois.  We  have  done  our  utmost  to  distract 
her  thoughts.  The  good  curate  called  every  day 
and  conversed  with  her  for  two  hours. 

PEPA.  Lively!    [Aside.] 

Mois.  I  tried  every  means  in  my  power — I 
took  her  for  long  walks  in  the  country  and  tried 
to  interest  her  in  botany — 

PEPA.  Very  lively!  [Aside.] 

Mois.  Every  night  we  played  a  rubber  at 
whist. 

PEPA.   Still  more  lively !    [Aside.] 

Mois.  But  in  spite  of  all — without  success — 
when — 

PEPA.   When  all  at  once — 
Mois.   When  all  at  once — what? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  15 

PEPA.  Monsieur  Max  turns  up,  and  the  plot 
begins  to  thicken,  eh? 

Mois.  Listen,  listen,  my  dears.  It's  just  six 
weeks  ago  this  Monsieur  Max,  who  has  some 
estates  in  the  neighborhood,  called  to  see  my 
child.  Well,  he  appeared  to  be  a  very  intelli- 
gent, quiet  gentleman,  and  to  make  a  long  story 
short, — you  see  he  was  very  fond  of  botany  and 
a  good  hand  at  whist, — well,  I  say,  to  make  a 
long  story  short,  I  invited  him  to  stay  here. 

PEPA.  The  bold  intruder ! — end  of  act  one. 

Mois.  Well,  Clotilde,  who  was  still  weak  and 
ill,  began  to  regain  her  old  spirits,  and  became 
quite  gay  and  happy. 

PEPA.  Ho— ho— I  see  what's  coming. 

Mois.  That's  more  than  I  did.  /  observed 
nothing — but  one  day  the  fcurate  arrived  in  a 
great  state  of  mind,  and  began  at  once  by  saying, 
"My  dear  friend,  I  very  much  fear  we  have 
introduced  a  wolf  into  the  sheepfold."  "A  wolf," 
said  I.  "O  Heavens !"  "God  forbid  that  I  should 
jump  at  a  hasty  conclusion,"  said  he,  "but  I  feel 
sure  that  the  Marquis" — for  Monsieur  Max  is  a 
Marquis  [Pepa  and  H ermine  exchange  looks.] 
— "is  in  love  with  your  daughter,  the  Countess." 
"Don't  tell  me  such  a  thing,"  said  I.  "Watch 
them,  my  dear  friend,"  said  he.  Well,  I  did 
watch  them,  and  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  curate  was  right.  They  walk  together, 


1 6  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

talk  together,  and  isolate  themselves  completely 
from  me. 

PEPA.    [Aside.]    I  don't  blame  them. 

Mois.  Now,  what  am  I  to  do?  Remonstrate 
with  Clotilcle?  I  dare  not.  Dismiss  this  fine 
gentleman  ?  I  haven't  the  power.  Tell  me,  then, 
what  should  I  do? 

PEPA.  Let  things  take  their  own  way,  of 
course.  Let  them  have  a  good  time. 

HER.   Oh,  Pepa— 

PEPA.  Oh,  Hermine.  With  such  a  husband 
as  she  has — why  not? 

Mois.  Not  for  the  wide  world, — never — never, 
— my  daughter  is  an  honest  woman,  Mademoi- 
selle Rimband.  Fortunately,  the  curate  had  an 
idea— "You  have  a  step-child,"  he  said;  "the 
White  Mouse, — Martha, — an  accomplished  little 
lady,  seventeen  years  old.  Why  can't  you  utilize 
the  circumstances?"  said  he,  seeing  how  broken- 
hearted I  was.  "The  Marquis  may  very  likely 
take  a  fancy  to  her  and  offer  her  his  hand  in 
marriage." 

PEPA.  Very  artful  curate,  that,— I  should  like 
to  meet  him. 

Mois.  Unluckily,  as  I  have  already  told  you, 
the  White  Mouse  is  such  an  insignificant  noth- 
ing, or  does  nothing  to  render  herself  acceptable 
or  fascinating,  and  when  the  curate  tried  to 
draw  her  out  before  Monsieur  Max,— oh,  so 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  17 

cleverly,  and  without  the  least  appearance  of  pre- 
meditation,— so  that  Monsieur  Max  might  learn 
she  can  talk  at  least, — I  say,  when  the  curate 
asked  her  the  other  evening,  when  we  were  all 
present,  "Mademoiselle  Martha,  I  have  forgotten 
the  story  of  Martin  Luther  and  the  origin  of  the 
Reformation ;  will  you  please  recall  it  to  me  ?" 
[Pepa  struggles  not  to  laugh.]  Well,  what  do 
you  think  my  young  lady  does  but  rises  and 
walks  straight  out  of  the  room  without  speaking 
a  single  word?  [Pepa  rises,  crosses  R.,  and 
laughs.] 

HER.  Oh,  Pepa— 

PEPA.  [Struggling  with  laughter.]  I  can't 
help  it — ha — ha — ha — I  can't  indeed — ha — ha — 
ha —  Oh,  please  forgive  me — ha — ha —  The 
idea  of  hanging  out  Martin  Luther  as  a  bait  for 
a  matrimonial  nibble  is  too  funny — ha — ha — 

HER.  Pepa,  be  serious. 

PEPA.  Oh,  Monsieur  Moisand,  you're  not  on 
the  right  track  at  all — marriages  are  not  made 
that  way. 

Mois.  Then  what's  to  be  done?  [Rises, 
crosses  R.] 

PEPA.  Let  us  see — how  old  is  the  gentleman? 

Mois.   Thirty-seven — or  eight — perhaps  forty. 

PEPA.  Oh,  moulting  time, — that's  the  best 
period  to  catch  an  [Drops  down  R.  around  table] 
old  bird.  Now  let  us  think  a  moment.  [Enter 


i8  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

Martha  C.,  unobserved.]  You  say  the  White 
Mouse  is  insignificant. 

Mois.  [Seeing  Martha.]  I  wish  you  would 
get  rid  of  that  convent  habit  of  yours — gliding 
about  like  a  ghost — it's  most  irritating  and  an- 
noys me  very  much.  Where's  the  Countess? 

MAR.     Coming. 

Mois.   Is  Monsieur  Max  with  her? 

MAR.  Yes,  Monsieur. 

Mois.  You  see,  she  actually  leaves  them  to- 
gether. She  has  no  brains  at  all. 

PEPA.  Where  is  this  terrible  fellow  Max  ?  Let 
me  have  a  peep  at  him.  [Crosses  up  R.  C.  to 
window.  Martha  drops  doivn  R.  and  sits.] 

Mois.  [To  Her  mine.]  You  see  my  position 
now.  What  am  I  to  do? 

HER.  It's  most  trying. 

PEPA.  [Coming  dozvn  all  a-flutter.]  Oh,  Her- 
mine — 

HER.   What's  the  matter?     [Crosses  up  C.] 

PEPA.  Monsieur  Moisand,  have  you  a  lady's 
maid  in  the  house?  WThere  is  my  reticule? 
[Crosses  L.] 

HER.  Pepa,  don't  fluster  me.  What  is  the 
matter  ? 

PEPA.  Go  and  see.  [Pushes  her  up  R.  and 
across.]  Where  is  my  reticule?  Have  you  any 
one  to  brighten  us  up  a  bit,  and  brush  the  dust 
off?  [To  Moisand.] 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  19 

HER.  [Coming  down.]  Pepa,  it's  Monsieur  de 
Simiers ! 

PEPA.    [Still  looking.]    Of  course  it  is. 

HER.  Monsieur  Moisand,  you  have  indeed  ad- 
mitted a  wolf  into  your  sheepfold.  [Crosses 
down  L.,  then  up  R.  to  window  again.] 

Mois.   Be  more  explicit,  Madame. 

PEPA.  She  means  simply  your  Monsieur  Max 
is  a  gentleman  who  is  [Crosses  down  L.]  envied 
by  all  young  men — hated  by  all  old  ones — adored 
by  all  the  young  ladies — and  feared  by  all  their 
mamas. 

Mois.  You  terrify  me.  [Backing  down  L.  and 
up  around  table.] 

PEPA.  Oh,  where  is  your  maid?  We  must 
never  be  seen  like  this.  [Crosses  up  C.  to  look- 
ing-glass.] 

HER.  No,  it  would  be  simply  ridiculous. 
[Crosses  down  C.] 

PEPA.    [Going  R.]   This  way. 

Mois.  No — no — this  way, — that's  my  room. 
[Exit  L.] 

PEPA.  That  way — quick — quick — we  have 
only  a  few  moments.  Fancy  Monsieur  de  Simiers 
—  this  is  becoming  interesting  —  do  be  quick. 
[To  Hermine.]  Did  you  bring  any  perfume? 
Yes?  Thank  goodness — a  few  minutes  only — 
quick — quick.  [Pepa  and  Hermine  exit  L.] 
[Enter  CLOTILDE  and  MAX.] 


20  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

CLOTILDE,  Ah,  my  friend,  you  have  not 
changed  in  the  least, — you  are  always  the  same. 
Well,  Martha,  where  are  my  friends?  [C.] 

MAR.   They  have  gone  to  dress  their  hair. 

CLO.  That's  all  on  your  account. 

MAX.  Do  not  poke  fun  at  me,  please.  [Crosses 
tip  L.  to  other  side  of  table  to  sofa.} 

CLO.  [To  Martha.]  Come  here,  child  [Martha 
crosses  C.] — always  this  one  little  rebellious  lock 
— not  in  character  with  the  White  Mouse.  I 
think  we  no  longer  desire  to  become  a  nun,  eh  ? 
How  old  are  you,  dear? 

MAR.  I  am  seventeen. 

CLO.  Seventeen,  really — seventeen  years  old 
— it's  quite  alarming.  Now,  what  is  passing 
there — some  great  secret,  eh?  Look  at  her, 
Max, — look  at  my  little  White  Mouse, — ealm  as 
a  sphinx  and  beautiful  as  youth, — unconscious 
youth  that  waits  and  listens  for  the  duties  and 
the  messages  of  time.  Ah!  my  ;child,  when  I 
look  at  you,  and  think  that  what  you  are  I  once 
was,  from  my  heart  I  pray  your  future  may 
never  be  what  my  present  is.  And  still  I'll  hope, 
whatever  time  may  bring,  you'll  love  me  just  a 
little,  will  you  not? 

MAR.   Oh,  yes. 

CLO.  "Oh,  yes."  Ha— ha— ha—  Do  you  re- 
member, Max,  when  we  called  twice  on  her  at 
the  convent? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  21 

MAR.   Three  times. 

CLO.  Three  times;  oh,  yes,  three  times;  and 
then  the  Mother  Superior  thought  that  a  man 
of  the  world  should  not  create  sensations  by 
entering  the  home  of  innocence.  That  was  the 
penalty  you  paid  for  greatness,  Max.  Why, 
•.vliat's  the  matter? 

MAX.    Matter?    Nothing — oh,  nothing. 

CLO.  Why  so  silent,  then?  Sulking?  Oh, 
mca  culpa,  I  had  forgotten  we  were  going  for  a 
ride.  [To  Martha.]  Have  you  your  habit  ready  ? 

MAR.   Yes,  Mama. 

CLO.   Good;  then  you  will  go  for  a  ride. 

MAX.   Ach. 

CLO.  There's  something  wrong? 

MAX.   No — no,  I  assure  you. 

MAR.    [To  Clotilde.]    Do  you  wish  me  to  go? 

CLO.  I  have  guests,  and  must  remain  at  home. 
But  that  will  not  prevent  Monsieur  Max  from 
taking  you.  He  will  be  only  too  glad  to  escort 
you,  I  am  sure. 

MAX.    [Muttering.]   Oh,  yes — yes,  to  be  sure. 

CLO.  What's  that  you  say? 

MAX.  That  to  be  at  her  command  will  give 
me  the  greatest  pleasure  in  the  world. 

MAR.  But  if  Monsieur  de  Simiers  does  not 
care  to  go? 

CLO.    [To  Max.]   Not  care  to  go? 


22  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.  On  the  contrary,  I  am  delighted.  Can 
we  get  on  without  a  leading  rein  ? 

CLO.  A  leading  rein  indeed.  Wait,  wait,  Max, 
and  you  will  see  you  have  made  a  sorry  joke. 
It's  much  cooler  now,  so  you  will  have  a.  delight- 
ful ride,  and  a  pleasant  chat,  too,  I  warrant — 

MAX.  About  old  Martin  Luther — and  the 
Reformation,  eh? 

CLO.  There,  Max,  you  must  not  tease  her. 
Run,  dear,  and  change  your  dress, — there's  no 
time  to  be  lost.  Seventeen  years  old!  [Exit 
Martha  up  R.}  Isn't  my  little  White  Mouse 
pretty  ? 

MAX.  No,  candidly,  I  don't  think  so. 
[Crosses  C.] 

CLO.  Oh — oh — oh — I  am  afraid  you  are  sulk- 
ing, Max ;  I  see  you  are  sulking. 

MAX.  I  had  been  reckoning  on  going  out 
with  you,  and  to  be  packed  off  with  this  White 
Mouse  is — is — well,  it's  different.  You  are  posi- 
tively making  me  a  nurse  to  that  child. 

CLO.  The  heart  of  a  woman  is  hidden  away 
in  that  child.  [Crosses  down  L.,  sits  R.  of  table.] 

MAX.  I  prefer  the  woman  with  the  heart  of  a 
child,  and  the  [Crosses  down  R.,  sits  at  table] 
fact  is,  I  can't  see  what  you  find  to  admire  in 
this  monotonous  White  Mouse. 

CLO.  You  would  if  you  knew  how  much  I  owe 
to  her.  Without  her,  what  would  have  become 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  23 

of  me  in  the  unhealthy  atmosphere  into  which 
my  marriage  threw  me?  I  cannot  tell, — I  dare 
not  think.  Not  even  your  warning  voice  when 
you  found  me  going  too  far  and  said,  "Clotilde, 
leave  that  dance  for  others, — you  were  meant 
for  an  honest  woman," — not  even  that,  I  think, 
would  have  changed  me, — it  only  left  me  think- 
ing— thinking, — but  sitting  one  day  in  that  nerv- 
ous, depressed  state  that  only  we  women  of  the 
world  know,  my  little  White  Mouse  stole  in  as 
noiselessly  as  a  shadow,  and  twining  her  arms 
around  my  neck,  she  said,  "Mama,  don't  cry." 
"Mama!"  Ah!  that  one  word  made  all  life  seem 
new  for  me  again,  and  I  saw  clearly  for  the  first 
time  we  can  live  for  others  in  this  world  as  well 
as  for  ourselves.  She  took  charge  of  my  heart 
then,  Max,  and  has  kept  it  ever  since.  Now  do 
you  think  I  will  listen  to  a  word  against  her 
from  one  who  may  leave  us  at  any  moment  for 
the  gay  life  he  adores? 

MAX.  Never — never — there  you  are  wrong. 
Paris  and  parties,  conquests  and  coquettes,  are 
all  things  of  the  past. 

CLO.  I  fear  I  have  no  faith  in  your  conversa- 
tion. 

MAX.  Why  not? — since  you  yourself  are 
changed  ? 

CLO.   Sorrow  brought  me  wisdom. 

MAX.  Old  age  has  brought  it  to  me. 


24  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

CLO.  A  man  should  never  think  of  it. 

MAX.  If  woman  would  let  him  forget  it. 
And  from  my  youth,  when  every  woman  found 
in  me  a  likeness  to  her  ideal,  your  sex  has  been 
my  idol. 

CLO.  Because  you  have  always  been  the  idol 
of  my  sex. 

MAX.  No,  no,  not  now.  I  am  out  of  date,  out 
of  fashion  now,  from  my  name  and  title  to  the 
manner  of  devotion  I  show  you,— for  distinction 
now  means  vulgar  display,  and  love  is  discoursed 
in  a  jargon  of  slang. 

CLO.  Well,  my  venerable  friend,  what  has  led 
you  to  this  stage  of  discontent?  [Rises,  drops, 
and  sits  on  end  of  sofa.] 

MAX.  [C.]  Two  little  words.  Like  a  stroke  of 
fate,  they  changed  the  whole  tenor  of  my  life. 
Three  months  ago  I  was  leaving  a  ball-room, — 
but  there,  I  don't  know  why  I  should  tell  you 
all  this? 

CLO.  Why  ?  Because  you  said  I  belong  to  the 
Sisterhood, — and  so  it's  quite  appropriate, — go 
on.  You  say  you  were  leaving  a  ball  ? 

MAX.  Yes,  I  was  coming  down-stairs — two 
ladies  were  in  advance  of  me,  and  talking  to- 
gether— the  carpet  was  thick  and  they  did  not 
hear  my  footsteps.  "Well,  my  dear,"  said  the 
first,  "you  have  seen  the  handsome  Max" — par- 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  25 

don  me,  Countess,  but  I  am  speaking  of  three 
months  ago. 

CLO.   Yes,  I  understand.    Go  on. 

MAX.  "Yes,"  repeated  the  second;  "it's  really 
wonderful;  he  does  not  change  in  the  least." 
"Oh,"  said  the  first,  "he  is  still  good-looking." 
Still, — what  consolation  in  that  adverb! — all  this 
I  overheard  from  the  landing  place  beneath,  you 
understand.  "He  is  still  good-looking,"  she  went 
on,  "but  begins  to  be  a  little  bit, — you  know, — a 
little  bit— old  fogey."  "Old  fogey!"  Ah!  you 
smile.  So  do  I  now,  but  not  with  my  heart. 
"Old  fogey!" — these  two  words  were  like  the 
wave  of  a  magician's  wand,  that  changes  all,  and 
with  them  my  old  confidence  vanished.  I  be- 
came as  gentle  and  meek  as — as — well,  your 
White  Mouse. 

CLO.    You? 

MAX.  In  a  flash,  I  saw  myself  old — ridicu- 
lous, and  blindly  foolish  to  that  fact — there  was 
no  consolation  to  me  in  the  thought  that  "a 
heart  can  never  grow  old,"  or  "a  man  is  as  old 
as  he  looks."  None — none.  [Drops  down  R., 
turning  back.] 

CLO.  So  that  is  the  reason  I  find  you  here  ? 

MAX.  [Continuing  his  own  thought.]  Grown 
old ! — my  God! — grown  old ! — think  of  it ! — to  set 
your  soul  at  watch  upon  your  body,  and  live  in  a 
continual  restraint, — to  have  gained  all  doubt  and 


26  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

lost  all  desire, — never  again  to  be  thrilled  at  the 
touch  of  a  dress,  or  quiver  at  an  odor's  fra- 
grance,— never  to  treasure  a  withered  flower  or 
weep  over  a  faded  ribbon !  "Trifles,"  you  say. 
Trifles  they  may  be, — stupid,  tender,  ridiculous, 
— but  sacred  too,  Clotilde ;  for  they  make  up  life. 

CLO.  My  poor  friend !  then  how  terribly  dull 
you  must  be  here. 

MAX.  Pardon  me ;  you  are  wrong ;  I  was  never 
happier. 

CLO.    Flatterer ! 

MAX.  You  have  taught  me  the  charm  of  an 
intimate  confidence,  and  the  calm  of  a  friendly 
serenity  I  never  knew  before.  [Crosses  up  L. 
to  back  of  sofa.] 

CLO.   Max,  you  must  get  married. 

MAX.  There;  I  was  waiting  for  that — "Get 
married."  I  expected  it  —  marry  the  White 
Mouse,  is  it  not? 

CLO.     Why  not? 

MAX.  A  child  ?  No  indeed,— I  am  not  as  old 
as  that.  I'm  only  thirty — hum! — thirty-six  per- 
haps— no,  no,  your  White  Mouse  is  not  for  me. 
In  the  first  place,  I  have  no  intention  of  marry- 
ing any  one — indeed  I  shall  never  marry — never, 
never — and  yet  there  is  one  woman  [Looking 
with  assumed  gallantry.]  who  has  made  me  un- 
derstand the  perfect  happiness  marriage  would 
bring. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  27 

CLO.   Marry  her  then. 

MAX.    I  cannot,  she  is  not  free.    [Aside.] 

CLO.  Then,  if  she  is  not  free,  do  not  think  of 
her  any  more.  [Aside.]  But  she  will  never 
cease  to  think  of  you.  [Enter  Martha,  in  riding 
habit.]  Ah,  Martha!  [Crosses  up  R.  €.] 

MAX.     [A side.}.    My  fiancee. 

CLO.  Turn  round,  please, — very  good  indeed. 
How  pretty  you  are,  child !  Ah !  Youth !  Youth ! 
We  will  show  you  to  these  Parisians  and  let 
them  see  [Enter  Pepa  and  Hermine]  that  in  the 
country — ah,  here  they  are —  [Goes  up.] 

PEPA.  Ah,  my  dearest  Clotilde,  how  delighted 
I  am  to  see  you ! 

CLO.  Dear  Pepa,  they  did  not  tell  me  it  was 
you.  [Embracing.] 

HER.    I,  too,  am  delighted. 

CLO.  My  dear  friend.    [Down  L.t  seats  them.] 

HER.  Believe  me,  I  sympathize  with  your 
lonely  life  and  trouble.  [R.] 

PEPA.  Yes,  dear,  especially  with  the  lonely 
life — fifteen  months  without  seeing  Paris!  [Sits 
sofaL.] 

CLO.  Except  when  my  lawyer  called  me, 
which  was  rarely. 

HER.  You  have  assumed  a  noble  attitude, 
Countess,  and  it  becomes  you,— but  it  must  be 
dreadful  to  be  thus  alone. 

CLO.    [Pointing  to  Martha.]    But  I  am  not 


28  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

alone.  [To  Martha  up  R.]  Go,  darling;  I  will 
join  you  soon.  [Exit  Martha.  Clotilde  drops  to 
chair  L.  of  table  R.] 

PEPA.  [Pretending  to  discover  Max.]  Is  it 
possible?  [To  Clotilde.]  You  have,  indeed, 
some  one  here.  Hermine,  see  Monsieur  de 
Simiers, — well,  well — 

HER.  [Feigning  surprise.]  Monsieur  de 
Simiers. 

PEPA.    Here  is  a  surprise, — you  here. 
[Together.] 

MAX.    Ladies.     [Back  of  table.] 

PEPA.  We  thought  you  dead  long  ago. 

MAX.     Not  just  yet. 

PEPA.  So  we  see.  And  while  we  have  been 
regretting  you  over  there  you  have  been  hiding 
away  over  here. 

MAX.  Visiting  my  neighbor. 

PEPA.  A  very  dangerous  neighbor.  Take  care, 
Clotilde.  [Crosses  down  R.  C.] 

HER.  Very  dangerous  indeed. 

MAX.    Nay,  I  assure  you — 

PEPA.  If  I  were  staying  here  I  would  be  very 
careful. 

HER.  Pepa — 

CLO.  What  do  you  mean, — if  you  were  stay- 
ing here  ?  You  are  going  to  remain,  I  hope. 

PEPA.  Monsieur  de  Simiers  would  never  for- 
give us. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  29 

HER.  I  would  die  sooner  than  disturb  the 
spell  of  your  idyll. 

CLO.  Remain,  then,  without  the  least,  fear. 
There  is  no  idyll  to  disturb. 

HER.  Are  you  sure  ?  Monsieur  de  Sirniers  is  a 
fascinating  man.  [Bus.  at  table.} 

MAX.  Madame,  I  kiss  your  hand.  [H  ermine 
crosses  C.  Pepa.] 

CLO.   Possibly ; — but  you  forget  I  am  not  free. 

PEPA.  What, — not  to  flirt  even  a  little  wee  bit  ? 
What  stands  between  your  freedom  and  your 
will? 

CLO.  My  duty — to  myself —  [Rises  and  seats 
H  ermine  doivn  R.] 

[Enter  MOISAND.] 

Mois.  [Aside  to  Pepa.]  I  have  sent  your  lug- 
gage to  your  rooms. 

PEPA.  [To  Moisand.]  Thanks.  Your  daugh- 
ter is  safe  on  the  honor  of  half  a  Spaniard.  We 
shall  have  a  bull-fight  on  a  new  plan — all  to  our- 
selves— and  Monsieur  de  Simiers  shall  play  the 
bull,  and  you  shall  be  the  spectator. 

Mois.    But  Madame  de  Sagancy — 

PEPA.  Oh,  she  will  be  the  red  flag  to  divert 
his  attention  wher  his  addresses  become  too 
pressing  for  me ;  then  the  White  Mouse  will  be 
the  goading  dart  that  drives  him  mad, — till  the 
matador, — that  is,  Pepa  Rimband, — brings  him 


30  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

to  his  knees  at  my  feet.    [Drops  down  L.  to  sofa 
with  Max.} 

Mois.    How  happy  this  will  make  the  good 
curate  !    I  must  run  and  tell  him. 
[MARTHA  enters.] 

MAR.    [To  Clotilde.]   Here  is  a  telegram. 

CLO.  For  me  ? 

MAR.  Yes,  from  Paris  — 

CLO.  Dear  me!  —  more  excitement  in  a  few 
hours  today  than  [Crosses  up  C.  with  back  to 
audience]  we've  had  before  in  fifteen  months. 
Ah  —  [Reading  telegram.] 

Mois.   What  does  it  say?    [Down  C.] 

CLO.  I  must  leave  at  once.    [Turning.] 

ALL.  At  once? 

CLO.   Yes,  at  once. 

Mois.   Is  it  from  the  lawyer? 

CLO.    Yes. 

MAX.  May  I  not  accompany  you  ?  [Down  C. 
with  back  to  audience.] 

CLO.  To  the  train,  yes.  Perhaps  my  friends 
will  come,  too.  They  can  go  on  from  there  to  the 
village  fair.  Max,  you  must  show  them  all  the 
country  can  boast  in  the  way  of  excitement  ;  and 
don't  let  them  weary  till  I  return.  [Crosses 


Mois.  Oh,  he  wont  ;  neither  will  I.     [Moisand 
and  H  ermine  C.] 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  31 

PEPA.   [To  Max.]  You  hear  your  instructions, 
Monsieur  ? 

MAX.    I  foresee  a  delight. 
MAR.    [To  Clotilde.]   What  have  you  learned? 
CLO.  Much, — oh,  so  much, — to  hope, — to  hope. 
[CURTAIN.] 


ACT  II. 

[At  rise,  MARTHA  discovered  sketching.     MAX 

and  PEPA  enter  noisily  without  seeing 

MARTHA.] 

PEPA.  Did  you  think  it  was  too  long?  For 
myself,  I  am  disappointed.  The  gipsy  woman 
was  going  to  tell  me  my  fortune;  and  I  wanted 
to  see  Eulalie,  the  strong  woman  of  the  W^st. 
[Crosses  R.  to  looking-glass.  Drops  doum  R. 
arranging  flowers.  Sits  in  chair.] 

MAX.  But  Madame  Sagancy  was  tired. 
[Crosses  to  L.] 

PEPA.  Oh,  she  is  always  tired.  She  must 
have  been  overworked  in  a  former  existence. 
[Sits.} 

[HERMINE  enters  and  overhears.] 

HER.  Every  one  has  not  your  robust  consti- 
tution, my  dear.  [Drops  to  chair  R.] 

PEPA.   No ;  I  wish  every  one  had,  my  darling. 

MAX.    [Aside.]    How  they  love  each  other ! 


32  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

HER.  Ever  since  the  Countess  left,  a  week 
ago,  we  have  been  every  day  to  that  horrid  vil- 
lage fair.  We  have  seen  all  the  monstrosities, — 
strong  women,  long  women,  thick  women  and 
skeletons.  Yet  you  are  not  satisfied,  Pepa? 
Enough  is  as  good  as  a  feast,  say  I;  and  don't 
you  think  so,  Monsieur  de  Simiers? 

MAX.  [Who  has  been  emptying  his  pockets.] 
Eh?  I  beg  your  pardon — 

PEPA.    You  are  far  too  delicate,  my  dear. 
HER.     Some  people  are  not  delicate  enough, 
my  darling. 

PEPA.  [Crosses  to  L.]  Monsieur  de  Simiers, 
what  on  earth  are  you  doing?  What  are  these 
things  ? 

MAX.    The  prizes  I  won  at  the  fair. 
PEPA.    Oh,  I've  an  idea;  let  us  get  up  a  raf- 
fle, shall  we? 

MAX.  Anything  to  afford  amusement — I  am 
willing.  [Crosses  to  center.] 

HER.  [To  Ma.r.]  Tell  me,  Monsieur  de  Sim- 
iers— 

MAX.  [To  H ermine.]  Madame —  [Crosses 
C.  R.] 

PEPA.     [Interrupting.]    Don't  forget  you  give 
me  my  first  swimming  lesson  in  half  an  hour. 
[Down  L.  at  table.] 
MAX.     Forget?     No,  indeed. 
HER.     Pepa,  you  ought  to  wait  a  little.    It  is 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  33 

injurious  to  enter  the  water  so  soon  after  lunch. 

PEPA.  I  appreciate  your  kindness,  dear,  but 
your  advice  would  be  just  as  appropriate  after 
dinner. 

HER.  But  if  you  wait  Monsieur  de  Simiers 
might  read  us  something  from  his  favorite  poet. 
[Sitting  L.  of  table  R.] 

MAX.    I  am  entirely  at  your  disposal. 

PEPA.  I  am  sure  you  would  much  rather  have 
a  game  of  tennis.  [Rises  and  drops  dozvn  L.] 

MAX.     By  all  means — come  along. 

HER.  You  are  always  on  the  move,  Pepa.  I 
suppose  you  wish  to  reduce  your  robust  figure. 

PEPA.  Robust?  Only  twenty-five  inches  round 
the  waist, — not  more  than  you,  dear. 

HER.    Oh,  my  darling — 

PEPA.  Why  do  you  say  "Oh"?  I  know  ex- 
actly. We  have  the  same  dressmaker — 

HER.    Possibly,  but  not  the  same  dress. 

PEPA.  Well,  I  should  hope  not.  But  you 
wouldn't  put  me  in  short  clothes,  would  you? 
Will  you  measure  us?  [To  Max.] 

MAX.  Entirely  at  your  service  in  that,  as  in 
everything  else. 

PEPA.  [Looking  around.}  I  wonder  if  they 
have  a  yard  measure  [Crosses  C.  around  above 
table  L.]  or  a  piece  of  string  or  tape.  Hello, — 
here's  the  White  Mouse  hiding  in  a  corner  as 
usual — eh, — what's  this  I  see? — my  novel.  Well, 


34  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

well,  well,  would  you  believe  it?  [Crosses  to  C. 
to  Max.] 

MAX.    Why  not? 

PEP  A.  "Why  not"?  Well,  because  it's  mine, 
and  it's  Parisian — and  it's  better  suited  for  you 
and  me.  Give  it  to  me,  child — oh,  she's  reading 
it  upside  down — she's  safe.  [Crosses  L.,  takes 
book,  drops  below  table.  Martha  crosses  R.  C.] 

MAX.  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that — she  may 
have  been  trying  to  understand  it.  [Crosses 
down  L.] 

PEPA.    You  mean — 

MAX.  [Taking  book.]  That  like  most  au- 
thors this  one  may  have  represented  in  his  pages 
Truth  standing  on  her  head,  and  the  White  Mouse 
for  propriety  has  turned  the  book  the  other  way. 
[Crosses  to  table  L.] 

PEPA.  [To  Martha.]  Let  me  take  your  belt. 
[Crosses  up  R.  C.] 

MAR.    Oh,  no — 

PEPA.  Just  for  a  minute — you  shall  have  it 
again  at  once.  [Takes  it  and  tries  it  round  her 
ivaist.  C.  L.  to  Max  with  belt.] 

HER.    It's  too  short  for  you,  dear — 

PEPA.  For  me?  For  me?  Yes,  for  you,  too, 
darling.  We  have  not  a  fairy  waist  like  that 
one.  [Indicating  Martha.] 

MAX.    Nor  should  you.    That's  a  child's  size. 

PEPA.     [Martha  going.]     You  are  a  tease. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  35 

[Sees  ribbon  on  Martha's  hair.}     Ah,  that  rib- 
bon,— the  very  thing. 

MAR.  Oh,  please  don't, — my  hair  will  come 
down. 

PEPA.  It's  all  right,  dear,— don't  be  afraid. 
[Takes  ribbon  from  hair,  which  tumbles  down.} 
Oh,  my,  look  at  that. 

[Enter  MOISAND  R.] 

Mois.  Martha,  I  am  shocked.  It's  quite  in- 
decent. You  are  a  very  tomboy. 

MAR.    But,  indeed,  it's  not  my  fault. 

PEPA.  Ah!  as  soft  as  eiderdown.  Monsieur 
de  Simiers,  do  look. 

MAX.   [Mockingly.]  A  perfect  nest  of  dreams. 
[Exit  MARTHA,  hastily,  L.} 

PEPA.  [Laughing.]  Poor  White  Mouse! 
She  is  indeed  easily  frightened.  [Offering  Max 
ribbon.]  Now,  if  you  please,  twenty-five,  you 
know.  I  say,  Hermine!  [Moisand  at  back, 
shocked.  Down  R.  C.  Max  crosses  R.  to  C.] 
Now  measure  me. 

HER.    Oh,  I  prefer  to  give  you  the  victory. 

PEPA.  [Center,  back  to  audience.]  Ah!  Ah! 
She  gives  in.  You  are  witness,  she  has  lost. 

MAX.  [Crosses  to  R.  C.  E.]  No,  indeed — I 
am  the  real  loser.  But  what  about  our  game  of 
tennis?  [Moisand  drops  L.] 

PEPA.  Oh,  yes,  go  and  find  the  rackets. 
[Crosses  up  L.,  then  back  R.  C.] 


36  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.    At  once.    [Going  R.] 

HER.  Monsieur  de  Simiers,  will  you  kindly 
bring  me  my  fan  ? 

MAX.    With  pleasure.     [Crosses  back  L.] 

Mois.  Monsieur  de  Simiers,  find  the  White 
Mouse ;  she  will  count  the  points  for  you. 

PEPA.  I  am  waiting  for  you,  Monsieur  de 
Simiers. 

HER.  Don't  forget  my  fan,  Monsieur  de  Sim- 
iers. 

MAX.  At  your  elbow.  What's  the  matter 
with  them  all?  [Exit  R.] 

PEPA.  [To  H ermine.  Positions.]  Now,  my 
dear,  look  here — are  you  going  to  mind  your 
own  business  or  are  you  not?  [Down  R.  to 
H  ermine.] 

HER.    What  do  you  mean? 

PEPA.  It  does  not  matter  to  me  in  the  least 
what  you  do.  But  if  you  mean  to  interfere  with 
my  plans  say  so,  only  don't  say  one  thing  and 
do  another. 

HER.    I  really  don't  understand  you. 

PEPA.  [C.]  Oh,  yes,  you  do;  that's  fudge — 
it's  "Monsieur  de  Simiers,  come  here,"  and 
"Monsieur  de  Simiers,  go  there,"  "Give  me  your 
arm,"  "Pass  me  that  footstool,"  "Bring  me  my 
fan," — don't  you  think  I  see  through  your  little 
game  ? 

Mois.    Ladies,  ladies !    [Rises.] 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  37 

HER.    Why  do  you  blame  me  for  your  failure  ? 

Mois.    My  dear!  my  dear! 

PEPA.    My  failure? 

HER.  Your  failure.  He  is  quite  indifferent 
to  you ;  you  can't  deny  it. 

PEPA.     Indifferent? 

HER.    Monsieur  Moisand,  am  I  not  right? 

Mois.    Perhaps  he  is  a  little  cold. 

PEPA.  And  if  he  is,  whose  fault  is  it,  pray? 
[Crosses  down  L.  to  Moisand.] 

Mois.  Why  Clotilde's.  It's  because  he  loves 
Clotilde, — and  she  loves  him. 

PEPA.  He  loves  her,  and  she  loves  him — 
pooh!  I  think  if  she  loved  him  she  might  have 
written  him  a  letter  since  she  left,  or  he  might 
have  asked  after  her  once  at  least — no,  it's  another 
case  of  "out  of  sight,  out  of  mind."  It's  an  old 
saying,  "Men  were  deceivers  ever." 

HER.  You  had  better  remember  that  yourself, 
my  dear,  for  Monsieur  de  Simiers  is  a  very  dan- 
gerous man. 

PEPA.  He  dangerous?  For  eight  days  he  has 
been  alone  here  with  two  unprotected  women 
and — 

HER.     Oh,  I'm  nobody, — I  don't  count. 

PEPA.  No,  I  didn't  count  you.  I  was  reckon- 
ing Martha,  who  ought  to  be  included.  Well, 
after  having  the  field  all  to  himself,  he  doesn't 
make  love  to  either  of  us.  You  call  that  being 


33  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

a  dangerous  man.  I  confess  I  don't  understand. 
Is  he  blase,  or  bashful,  or  what?  If  there  is  no 
attraction  for  him  here,  why  does  he  stay? 

Mois.  Waiting  for  Clotilde  to  come  back,  I 
feel  sure.  Can  nothing  be  done?  [Sits  L.  sofa.] 

PEPA.  Well,  if  my  latest  plans  fail,  then  I 
shall  be  indeed  discouraged  and  say  no.  [Down 
L.  to  table.] 

Mois.    Your  latest  plans? 

PEPA.  Yes.  I  mean  to  dress  all  in  white, — 
that,  he  told  me,  was  his  favorite  color. 

HER.  [Aside.]  Oh,  did  he?  I  must  remem- 
ber that. 

PEPA.  Then,  in  the  summer  house,  I — but  no, 
I  mustn't  tell  [C.]  you  more  at  present.  Still  I 
may  say,  if  there  is  anything  human  in  him  I 
can't  see  how  he  will  be  able  to  resist.  Then 
when  we  go  for  a  swim  I  am  going  to  be 
drowned. 

Mois.  and  HER.    What? 

PEPA.  Oh,  I  assure  you  when  drowned  I  am 
simply  irresistible.  I've  tried  it.  Well,  I  get 
drowned — he  saves  me — I  faint — he  revives  me. 
Then  when  I've  recovered  my  senses — provided 
he  has  not  entirely  lost  his  by  that  time — he 
proposes  to  me,  and  I  accept.  What  do  you 
think  of  my  plan?  \Max  calls  off,  "Mademoi- 
selle Pepa!"  H ermine  rises,  crosses  L.  Moi- 
sand  L.  also.] 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  39 

PEPA.  Oh,  the  tennis.  I  am  coming.  [R.] 
Not  a  word  to  any  one,  and  you,  Hermine,  inter- 
fere or  not  just  as  you  please, — only  if  you  in- 
tend to  do  so  let  me  know. 

[MARTHA  appears  at  R.  center.] 

MAR.     [Offering  racket.]     Mademoiselle. 

PEPA.  I  am  coining.  I'll  give  you  fifteen 
points.  [Calling  back  to  Hermine.]  You  will 
let  me  know  your  decision,  dear.  [Exit  ivith 
Martha.] 

HER.  [To  Moisand.]  Have  I  the  air  of  a 
meddler,  I  ask  you?  [Hermine  looks  off  after 
Pepa  during  Moisand' s  aside.} 

Mois.  The  idea  of  such  a  thing!  [Aside.] 
The  good  curate  said  to  me,  "If  one  doesn't 
succeed  perhaps  the  other  may,"  so  I  shall  give 
this  one  a  chance.  [Aloud.]  Of  course,  my 
dear,  you  can't  prohibit  the  gentleman  from  ad- 
miring you,  now  can  you? 

HER.  Oh,  Monsier  Moisand,  it  isn't  that — 
but  if  Pepa  doesn't  succeed  she  must  blame  her- 
self for  the  stupid  way  in  which  she  has  set  to 
work. 

PEPA.  [Aside,  reappearing  at  back.]  Oh, 
thank  you,  my  dear — 

HER.  She  ought  to  have  captivated  him  with 
sentiment,  but  that  quality  and  Pepa — 

PEPA.  [Aside  at  back.}  Are  strangers,  thank 
heaven. 


40  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

HER.  She  is  pleasing  up  to  a  certain  point, 
but  she  has  no  real  attractions. 

PEPA.  [Aside  at  back.]  Oh,  no  attractions, 
haven't  I?  Wait,  wait,  Madame. 

MAR.  [Outside.]  Now,  Mademoiselle,  it's 
your  turn. 

HER.  Come,  Monsieur,  between  ourselves,  do 
you  really  think  that  Pepa  is  attractive?  [Crosses 
to  L.,  sees  Pepa,  falls  into  Moisand's  amis.] 

PEPA.  [Coming  down.]  Possibly  I  am  not 
the  one  he  loves,  but  I  am  sure,  attractive  or  no, 
Monsieur  de  Simiers  prefers  me  to  you.  [Dur- 
ing this  scene  Mois.  drops  above  table  behind 
vase  of  roses.] 

MAR.  [Entering.]  Mademoiselle,  we  are 
waiting  for  you. 

PEPA.    You  play  for  me.     [Exit  Martha.] 

HER.  If  I  were  vain  I  might  say  Monsieur 
de  Simiers  is  partial  to  me. 

PEPA.  Oh,  well,  if  you  are  sure  of  it,  and  are 
anxious  to  interfere,  I  wash  my  hands  of  the 
entire  affair. 

HER.  But  I  have  no  wish  to  interfere.  [Sits 
sofa.  ] 

Mois.    Ladies,  ladies ! 

HER.  All  I  say  is,  I  am  anxious  to  see  how 
you  will  succeed. 

PEPA.    Oh,  you  shall  see. 

HER.    I  hope  so. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  41 

PEPA.     I  promise  you.     [Crosses  R.] 
[Enter  MARTHA.] 

MAR.    It's  all  over.     [Sits  in  chair  R.] 

PEPA.    Already  ? 

MAR.    You  have  won,  Mademoiselle  Pepa. 

PEPA.    Oh,  but  you  did  it  all. 
[Enter  MAX.] 

MAX.  [To  Pepa.]  I've  lost.  I'm  at  your 
mercy.  What  are  your  demands? 

PEPA.  That  the  conquered  embrace  the  con- 
queror. 

MAX.  [Going  to  her.]  In  that  way  you  make 
me  the  real  victor. 

PEPA.  No,  no,  not  me;  it's  the  White  Mouse 
who  won  the  game — embrace  her.  [Rising.] 

[Moisaud  expostulates.] 

MAX.  [Crosses  to  Moisand.]  Never  fear,  sir. 
You  are  right, — one  should  always  spare  the 
children.  [Martha  sits.]  [To  Pepa.]  I  demand 
my  revenge  on  the  same  condition,  but  you  must 
play  fair  next  time.  [Martha  crosses  to  R.  chair 
L.  of  table.  Moisand  crosses  up  R.  Max  above 
table  L.] 

PEPA.  I  promise — after  the  swimming  .esson. 
Xow  I  am  going  to  [Crosses  C.]  dress  [Aside.] 
in  white.  Are  you  coming,  Hermine?  Come 
along.  [Passing  by  table  on  which  Max's  prizes 
are  lying.]  Oh,  by  the  by,  our  raffle — what 
about  it? 


42  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.  Do  you  think  the  prizes  are  worth  the 
trouble?  Let  me  distribute  them  among  you 
now.  [Gives  Moisand  a  long  stick  of  candy.] 
Monsieur — 

Alois.  [Biting  it.]  Peppermint.  [Crosses 
L.  up  L.] 

PEPA.    For  his  second  childhood. 

MAX.  [Gives  her  macaroons.]  Mademoiselle 
Pepa — 

HER.  Something  to  eat  for  her,  of  course. 
[Rises,  crosses  R.] 

PEPA.  Oh,  they  are  good.  [Eating  them.  Up 
door  L.] 

MAX.  [Gives  Her  mine  toy  dog  and  immor- 
telles.] Madame — immortell 

PEPA.    [Laughing  aside.]    Bow-wow-wow  fo 
the  baby ! 

HER.  [To  Pepa.]  He  wants  me  to  live  for- 
ever. [Up  door  L.] 

PEPA.  Not  at  all — he's  buried  you.  [E.ruent 
Moisand,  Pepa,  H 'ermine,  with  laugh.] 

[Lights  gradually  lowered  to  gloaming  at  end 
of  act.] 

MAX.  [To  Martha.]  Don't  think  I've  for- 
gotten you,  Miss  White  [Crosses  to  her.]  Mouse. 
[Offering  doll.]  This  is  yours  by  rights.  She 
can  speak,  too,  -see —  [Presses  doll.}  Couie — 
couie —  [Puts  it  in  her  hand.]  Isn't  «he  a 
beauty  ? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  43 

MAR.  [Lowering  her  head.]  Oh,  Monsieur — 
[Drops  doll] 

MAX.  [Picking  it  up.]  Oh,  dear  me,  you 
"must  not  break  your  toys ;  that's  a  very  naughty 
White  Mouse. 

MAR.  My  name  is  Martha  de  Berron,  Mon- 
sieur. 

MAX.  [Surprised.]  Really,  I — I  beg  your 
pardon,  Mademoiselle  Martha —  [Pause.  Exit 
Martha  up  L] 

MAX.  Good  gracious,  who  would  have  ex- 
pected this  from  the  White  Mouse?  "My  name 
is  Martha  de  Berron,  Monsieur!"  She  really 
said  that! — ha!  ha!  ha! — upon  my  word,  she 
was  quite  furious.  Well,  she  ought  to  detest 
me;  it's  true  I  do  tease  her  dreadfully.  Why? 
I  suppose  because  it's  amusing — one  can  see  into 
these  little  girls'  hearts.  [Enter  H ermine.]  Hum 
— here  is  some  one  more  opaque.  [Down  R.] 

HER.    [Mysteriously.]    Is  Pepa  here? 

MAX.  Here?  Why,  you  only  went  out  to- 
gether a  moment  since. 

HER.   Are  you  not  expecting  her? 

MAX.    I? 

HER.  Of  course. 

MAX.    Why  "of  course"? 

HER.  Then  I  may  come  in?     [Coming  down.] 

MAX.    [Aside.]    Now,  what  does  she  want? 


44  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

HER.  [Seating  herself,  L.]  Are  you  positive  I 
am  not  in  the  way? 

MAX.    Ah,  Madame,  how  could  you  be? 

HER.  It's  quite  plain  Pepa  is  infatuated  with 
you,  and  you  pretend  not  to  observe  it,  but  I 
can  see  through  it.  Pepa  is  not  so  insignificant 
as  all  that. 

MAX.  Insignificant  indeed!  I  should  think 
not!  [Aside.]  I  wonder  if  she  came  to  plead 
her  friend's  cause. 

HER.  How  dreadfully  dull  you  are!  Our 
society  must  have  deadened  your  wits.  You 
can't  deny  Pepa  attracts  you, — and  she  has 
plenty  of  spirits. 

MAX.    Spirits, — Oh,  yes,  of  a  certain — 

HER.  Oh,  we  won't  discuss  the  question  of 
quality, — which,  I  dare  say,  is  a  trifle  vulgar, — 
but  that  she  has  inherited. 

MAX.    Is  that  all  she  has  inherited? 

HER.   Don't  you  think  she  is  pretty? 

MAX.    Oh,  very  pretty. 

HER.  Lovely,  if  you  prefer  it.  Perhaps  with 
a  little  more  waist,  though,  she  would  be  im- 
proved. The  waist,  or  want  of  waist,  spoils  her. 
She  thinks  to  compress  it  is  to  improve  it. 

MAX.  [Aside.]  Save  us  from  our  friends ! — 
[Aloud.]  So  she  really  indulges  in  repression? 

HER.  Compression.  Poor  creature!  don't  you 
see  how  she  walks?  Why,  I  remember  one  day, 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  45 

— but  no ;  really  I  can't  tell  that, — it  would  not  be 
just.  The — oh,  no,  really  I  can't. 

MAX.  Oh,  do  tell  me — won't  you?  [Aside.] 
She  only  wants  a  chance. 

HER.  After  all,  it  is  not  anything  very  much. 
One  day  we  went  to  the  dressmaker's  together, 
and  I  saw  there — I  seem  to  be  making  fun  of 
my  friend,  don't  I.  But  in  reality  I  envy  her 
all  the  time — if  for  nothing  else,  her  power  of 
sleeping  and  her  gigantic  appetite — and  yet,  poor 
Pepa! — I  very  much  doubt  if  she  will  ever  real- 
ize your  ideal.  [Rises,  crosses  to  sofa.] 

MAX.  [Laughing.]  The  fact  is,  that  for  one's 
ideal  she  is  rather — 

HER.  Plump,  eh?  Yes,  you  are  right.  Ah, 
Monsieur  de  Simiers,  I  [Coming  to  him]  under- 
stand your  feelings  well  enough, — for  I  possess 
the  same  nature  as  yourself — moved  by  the  same 
likes  and  dislikes, — I  feel  it, — I  know  it.  Didn't 
I  find  you  yesterday  gazing  at  the  pensive  moon  ? 

MAX.    Yesterday  ? 

HER.  Yes,  at  twilight,  in  the  woods,  at  the 
time  that  Pepa  was  still  eating  pudding? 

MAX.  Oh,  yes,  I  remember;  I  was  enjoying 
my  cigar.  [Down  R.  C.] 

HER.  Ah,  it  was  sublime,  was  it  not?  Will 
you  gaze  at  it  again  tonight?  [Up  C.] 

MAX.   Will  you?     [Turns  to  her.] 

HER.  Ah,  Monsieur  de  Simiers,  I  am  a  woman 


46  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

you  can  trust, — you  can  pour  out  your  heart  to 
me.  Then  it  is  understood,  in  the  woods, — to- 
night— 

MAX.    Tonight. 

HER.  [Holding  out  her  hand.]  Are  we  friends? 

MAX.  [Taking  her  hand.]  Friends —  [She 
starts.]  why,  what  is  the  matter? 

HER.  I  am  always  the  same  at  the  slightest 
emotion.  I  have  always  those  dreadful  palpita- 
tions. 

MAX.  Really,  can  I —    [Enter  Pepa  L.] 

HER.  Feel —  [Business  drops  L.]  Not  now, 
— tonight, — you'll  not  forget, — tonight.  [Crosses 
upR.] 

[Exit,  without  seeing  PEPA.] 
[PEPA  looks  amazed  after  her.} 

MAX.  The  silly  old  fool!  [Sees  Pepa.]  Ah, 
here's  the  other  one, — I  wonder  what  she  has  to 
say  for  herself. 

PEPA.   Well,  are  you  caught? 

MAX.   Caught?    By  what? 

PEPA.  Rickets, — the  languishing  lady  that  just 
left, — oh,  you  [Crosses  R.  and  sits  at  table]  may 
as  well  out  with  it.  She's  been  trying  her  fasci- 
nations upon  you — come  now — confess  it. 

MAX.  [Aside.]  This  is  the  way  the  other  one 
began, — I'm  in  for  it  again.  [Down  L.] 

PEPA.  Morphine  and  melancholy!  Pepsin 
and  poetry !  Oh !  I  know  her  fetching  way. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  47 

MAX.  Surely,  Mademoiselle  Pepa,  she  could 
not  invent  all  her  ailments.  [Back  C.] 

PEPA.  Ha! — ha!  did  she  go  in  for  her  palpi- 
tations too? — and  her  poor  heart? — "Feel  how 
it  beats!" — and  you  did — it  wasn't  difficult— 

MAX.    [Laughing.]   Ah!   Ah! 

PEPA.  [Laughing.]  Oh,  not  another  word,  or 
I  may  be  tempted  to  reveal  a  secret,  for  we  both 
employ  the  same  dressmaker. 

MAX.  [Laughing.]  And  you  went  with  her 
there  one  day? 

PEPA.  Yes;  about  a  year  ago,  when  she  was 
still  living  with  her  husband. 

MAX.   [Drawing  her  on.]   And  you  found? 

PEPA.  Ha ! — ha !  poor  Monsieur  Max,  you  are 
easily  infatuated — but  with  what? — the  padding 
or  the  lady?  But  there,  I  won't  say  any  more. 
It  seems  you  have  a  weakness  for  ladies  of  a  cer- 
tain age. 

MAX.  Alas,  Mademoiselle,  I  also  am  a  gentle- 
man of  a  certain  age.  My  courting  days  are 
over.  [Crosses  down  L.] 

PEPA.  Is  that  modesty  or  prudence?  [Crosses 
C.  to  Max.}  Do  you  know,  Monsieur  de  Simiers, 
that  your  actions  have  to  a  certain  extent  com- 
promised me? 

MAX.  You?    Oh,  surely  not.     [Crosses  C.] 

PEPA.  Look  here,  you  are  not  altogether  what 
people  suppose  you  to  be, — are  you  honest  ? 


48  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.   You  shall  be  the  judge. 

PEP  A.  Of  your  honesty?  No,  thank  you. 
[Crosses  L.}  But — stay — well — yes — let  me  see 
your  hand.  [Back  to  C.} 

MAX.   My  hand? 

PEPA.   Oh,  don't  be  afraid ;  I  won't  eat  it. 

MAX.    [Offering  hand.}    Afraid,  indeed. 

PEPA.  [Examinging  his  hand.]  Dear,  dear!  oh, 
I  am  not  pitying  you. 

MAX.  But  what  do  you  see  ? 

PEPA.  Look  here;  do  you  see  this  line  which 
crosses  the  hollow  of  your  palm  ? 

MAX.  Yes, — what  does  that  denote? 

PEPA.  Ah,  ha!  that  signifies — a  tender  affec- 
tion— felt  for  some  one — who  is  not  far  off — 
and  who — .  No,  I  won't  tell  you ;  all  I  need  say 
is  that  you  are  not  to  be  pitied  at  all. 

MAX.  Do  I  know  the  lady? 

PEPA.    Yes. 

MAX.  Is  she  pretty? 

PEPA.    [Bashfully.]     Yes. 

MAX.    Young? 

PEPA.  Oh,  yes. 

MAX.    A  woman  of  experience? 

PEPA.   Most  decidedly. 

MAX.  Ah,  indeed!  that  will  simplify  matters. 

PEPA.  Ah!  No!  No!  No! 

MAX.  At  least,  say,  is  she  present  now? 

PEPA.     [Going.]    Guess,  guess.    [Aside.]    I 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  49 

have  succeeded  as  far  as  possible  in  this  dress, — 
now  I'll  put  on  my  white  one —  [Aloud.]  You 
must  guess — guess — my  friend.  [Exit  up  L.] 

MAX.  Ah !  these  women ! — what  flirts ! — what 
coquettes !  They  would  entice  one  on — lead  him 
to  the  brink — and  then — well,  I  should  not  com- 
plain,— it's  delightful  even  to  be  laughed  at  by  a 
woman!  They  play  with  you  as  a  cat  does  with 
a  mouse.  [Down  R.  Enter  Martha,  looking  for 
something  on  the  floor.]  And,  talking  of  a  mouse, 
— "My  name  is  Martha  de  Berron,  Monsieur" — 
and  how  very  well  she  said  it,  too! — I  wonder 
what  she's  looking  for?  [To  Martha,  who  rises 
and  works  around  table  to  C.]  Have  you  lost 
anything,  Mademoiselle  Martha  de  Berron? 
[Aside.]  She's  not  forgiven  me  for  offering 
that  doll —  [Aloud.]  I  fear,  by  your  anxiety, 
you  have  lost  something  of  great  value — a  jewel 
or  a  trinket,  or  perhaps  your  sketch-book. 
[DownL.] 

MAR.  [Anxiously  searching.]  It  must  have 
dropped  from  my  pocket  when  I  was  playing 
tennis. 

MAX.  [Mockingly.]  Oh,  then,  it  was  the  mys- 
terious sketch-book.  I  can  understand  your 
anxiety.  [Aside.]  I  dare  say  it  contains  my 
caricature,  among  others.  [Aloud.]  Will  you 
allow  me  to  assist  you  ? 

MAR.    [Agitated.]    Oh,  no,  no,  no — 


50  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.  [Mockingly.]  I  fear  you  are  still  cross 
with  me, — and  that  is  hardly  generous, — Ma- 
demoiselle Martha  de  Berron; — please  observe 
that  I  am  very  careful  not  to  call  you  "White 
Mouse."  No,  I  have  trapped  the  mouse,  shut 
up  the  doll,  and  withdrew  everything ;  and  if  my 
presence  now  displeases  you,  I  will  withdraw 
that  too.  Henceforth  I  promise  to  treat  you  with 
that  regard  which  is  worthy  your  age  and  im- 
portance. [During  this  speech  Martha  has  grad- 
ually sunk  on  a  chair,  C.,  her  head  lowered, — she 
now  covers  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  bursts 
into  tears.]  What!  are  you  really  crying? — 
"  White  Mouse  "  —  Martha  —  Mademoiselle  de 
Berron — what  is  the  matter? 

MAR.  [Endeavoring  to  go.]  Nothing ;  nothing 
at  all. 

MAX.    [Stopping  her.]   But  you  can  tell  me. 

MAR.   No,  it  is  nothing, — please  let  me  go. 

MAX.  By  no  means,  not  until  I  know  the  real 
reason.  Is  it  on  account  of  the  doll  ?  That  was 
only  meant  as  a  joke, — not  to  be  taken  seriously. 
[Martha  sobs.]  Do  think  I  was  only  jesting— 
[Martha  sits]  come,  come,  my  child;  let  us  be 
friends  again,  and  make  peace.  I  am  at  my  wits' 
end,— what  am  I  to  do?  [Sees  doll  on  table, 
takes  it  and  presents  it  to  her.]  Come ;  you  must 
accept  it — 

MAR.    [Gently  repulsing.]   Ah,  Monsieur— 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  51 

MAX.  Indeed  I  am  in  earnest, — take  it,  just 
to  show  you  understand  the  joke, — accept  it;  and 
if  I  ever  say  or  do  anything  in  future  to  dis- 
please you,  do  this  [Presses  doll's  chest,  "choic 
choic"],  and  I'll  know  what  you  mean. 

MAR.  [Boldly  speaking  out.]  Monsieur  de 
Sinners,  what  have  I  ever  done  to  you, — what 
quarrel  have  you  with  me  that  you  should  treat 
me  so  ? 

MAX.  I?  I  do  nothing  more  to  you  than  I 
do  to  any  one  else,  child. 

MAR.  To  every  one  else — that's  true. 

MAX.   Then  why  should  you  be  unhappy? 

MAR.  Why?  Because  I  have  never  anything 
said  to  me  that  does  not  pain  or  humiliate  me; 
even  you  always  call  me  by  a  nickname — 

MAX.   But  that  I  have  entirely  withdrawn. 

MAR.  And  you  give  me  children's  toys. 

MAX.  These  I  have  also  withdrawn. 

MAR.  You  tease  me,  and  you  persecute  me, — 
and,  in  fact,  you  detest — 

MAX.   Oh!— oh!— oh!— 

MAR.  Yes,  yes,  it  is  so ;  but  you  will  not  have 
to  endure  my  presence  much  longer,  for  I  will 
soon  re-enter  a  convent. 

MAX.   What? 

MAR.  Oh,  I  am  quite  aware  that  I  am  a  person 
of  neither  age  nor  importance — a  nonentity — a 
Cinderella — 


52  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.  [More  seriously.]  Well,  really  I  would 
hardly  have  believed  that  such  a  simple  joke 
would  have — 

MAR.  "Such  a  simple  joke !" — no  indeed !  But 
can't  you  understand  that  in  this  house  I  have 
no  heartfelt  place?  What  might  be  bearable  in 
another  position  becomes  endurable  in  mine. — 
I  quite  understand  that  most  people  could  not 
comprehend  my  feelings — but  I  did  think — I  did 
hope  that  you — oh! — oh! — oh! — it's  wicked! — 
it's  past  endurance! —  [Bursts  into  tears.] 

MAX.  [Earnestly  for  the  first  time.]  You  are 
quite  right,  young  lady.  It  is  unjust,  and  I  have 
only  this  poor  excuse  to  offer, — that  I  did  not 
understand  you.  I  thought  I  was  only  joking 
with  your  pride,  when  in  reality  I  was  paining 
you  to  the  heart.  My  conduct  was  neither  gen- 
erous nor  wise,  and  I  hope  you  do  not  think  I 
acted  conscious  of  what  I  did. —  [Pause.]  Say 
— say — you  do  not  believe  that — 

MAR.  [Through  her  tears.]  No,  Monsieur 
Max. 

MAX.  I  saw  you  always  so  young — it  seemed 
to  me  that —  In  fact,  the  woman's  nature  was 
obscured  by  the  child's ; — do  you  understand  ? 

MAR.    [As  before.]   Yes,  Monsieur  Max. 

MAX.  And  my  repentance  is  sincere,  I  assure 
you ;  and — well,  can  I  say  more  ? 

MAR.   [As  before.]   No,  Monsieur  Max. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  53 

MAX.  Well,  then,  do  not  punish  me  too  severe- 
ly for  my  blunder, — and  do  not  cry  any  more, — 
and  look  at  me,  that  I  may  read  my  pardon  in 
your  eyes.  Come;  show  me  some  mercy,  my 
little  White  Mouse. 

MAR.  [Presses  doll's  chest  without  turning  her 
head—  "Choic  choic."] 

MAX.  [Joyfully.]  Oh,  then,  you  do  pardon 
me,  Mademoiselle  Martha,  and  you  see  my  error 
was  all  a  mistake. 

MAR.  [Slowly  looking  round.]  Then  you  do 
not  really  detest  me  ? 

MAX.  Indeed,  indeed,  it  is  rather  you  who 
have  reason  to  hate  me — 

MAR.  And  you  do  not  think  me  silly  and  sensi- 
tive? 

MAX.  Of  course  not. 

MAR.  Not  to  have  so  complained — and  so  re- 
proached you? 

MAX.  [Unconsciously  falling  in  love.]  Not  at 
all —  [Aside.]  She  has  the  virtues  of  both  woman 
and  child ! — a  remarkable  mingling  of  the  two ! 
— quite  wonderful! — 

MAR.  I  hardly  know  how  I  came  to  tell  you  all 
this — except  that  my  heart  was  so  full  it  over- 
flowed. 

MAX.  On  the  contrary,  I  can't  see  how  I  came 
to  provoke  you  so ;  I  ought  to  have  known  better 


54  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

than  to  have  acted  thus  to  a  fine  young  lady  of 
seventeen — 

MAR.     Eighteen. 

MAX.  Eighteen! — is  it  possible?  Then  I  am 
still  more  culpable. —  But  let  the  past  be  for- 
gotten, and  let  us  shake  hands. —  What,  will  you 
not  shake  hands?  [Takes  hand.]  How  you 
tremble! — then  I — I — frighten  you — 

MAR.   Yes — oh,  yes — 

MAX.  Please  don't  say  so. —  My  only  wish 
is  that  we  may  become  true  friends — and  never 
refer  to  the  past — and,  above  all,  never  talk  of 
re-entering  a  convent.  Promise  me  you  will 
abandon  that  idea. 

MAR.  But  is  it  necessary, — I  must  go  some- 
where, Monsieur  Max. 

MAX.  Why  there  ? 

MAR.  Because  I  have  friends  there  who  love 
me — 

MAX.  [Quickly.]  Oh!  and  here  as  well. 
[Slowly.]  I  dare  not  refer  to  myself,  for  our 
friendship  is  so  newly  founded, — but  Clotilde — 

MAR.  Oh,  Clotilde  will  soon  be  a  widow — and 
then  she  will  marry  again. —  Widows  always  do, 
don't  they? 

MAX.  Yes, — and  you  will  marry  too. 

MAR.   Never! — the  convent  shall  be  my  home. 

MAX.   Come,  come;  don't  talk  of  renouncing 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  55 

the  pleasures  of  life  before  you  have  had  expe- 
rience of  them. 

MAR.  No,  I  am  not  fated  to  be  happy. 

MAX.    How  can  you  possibly  tell? 

MAR.  [As  if  thinking  aloud.]  OK,  I  have 
known  exactly  what  my  future  life  would  be, — 
have  known  it  for  a  long  time, — ever  since  my 
poor  mother  died.  Ah,  Monsieur  Max,  I  was 
but  a  little  child  then,  but  how  well  I  remember 
the  day.  They  had  placed  me  on  the  bed  beside 
her. —  I  can  still  see  it  all, — she  was  pale, — oh, 
so  pale, — and  her  large  tender  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  me,  already  clouded  with  the  dews  of 
death. —  She  did  not  speak  a  word  for  some 
time,  though  her  eyes  never  quitted  me  for  a 
moment, — then  slowly  to  herself  she  said, — quite 
softly, —  "Martha,  my  poor  child! — my  poor 
little  child!" —  then  I  heard  no  more — but  a  sob 
— and  her  hand  dropped  on  the  coverlet — and  I 
was  led  away —  "My  poor  little  child !"  These 
were  my  mother's  last  words,  Monsieur  Max, 
and  I've  often  repeated  them  since. —  Ah!  you 
see  it's  far  better  that  I  should  re-enter  the  con- 
vent. 

MAX.    [To  himself.]    "Poor  little  child!" 

MAR.  Am  I  not  right? 

MAX.  No,  no,  certainly  not — by  no  means — 
I  can't  possibly  agree  with  you — a  convent  in- 


56  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

deed! — it's  horrible  even  to  think  ofl —  I  only 
visited  the  one  you  were  in  twice — 

MAR.    Three  times. 

MAX.  Oh,  was  it  three  times?  But  the  thick 
walls — the  gratings — the  bare  idea  is  enough — 
burr-r-r —  And  why  should  you  enter  it  ? —  You 
have  had  no  experience  of  the  world  yet — I  say? 

MAR.  Possibly  I've  not  seen  much  actual  expe- 
rience, Monsieur,  but  I  have  imagined  a  great 
deal, — oh,  yes,  indeed. 

MAX.  [Aside.]  Just  like  a  woman !  [Aloud.] 
And  you  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  a 
man's  dress  would  be  becoming? 

MAR.   [Reproachfully.]    Oh,  Monsieur  Max. 

MAX.  Well,  then,  what  is  your  real  reason  for 
seeking  to  enter  a  convent, — something  roman- 
tic, eh? 

MAR.  No,  no;  really,  it's  only — 

MAX.  Ah,  then — you  admit  there  is  a  reason — 
[Aside.]  This  is  becoming  amusing.  [A loud.] 
Won't  you  confide  in  me  ? 

MAR.  [Embarrassed.]  Well,  then,  Monsieur 
Max, — the  fact  is,  we  have  made  a  vow — 

MAX.    "We"?    Who  do  you  mean? 

MAR.  Two  friends  of  mine,  in  the  convent, 
and  myself — Cecile  d'Evey — and  Regina  de  Mon- 
terey. 

MAX.      "Regina"— a     tall,     dark    girl— very 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  57 

pretty,  who  was  in  the  reception  room — the  last 
time  I  called? 

MAR.  The  last  time?  Oh,  every  time, — she 
and  some  of  the  other  girls  contrived  to  be  there 
whenever  you  came — and  I  may  tell  you — they 
kr.n\\-  you  quite  well  by  reputation. 

MAX.    Me?    How?    By  what  means? 

MAR.  Through  their  friends,  who  brought 
tlicm  ncwspapeis  with  reports  all  about  you. 

MAX.  Is  it  possible?  And  you  say  they  know 
all  about  me? 

MAR.     Everything. 

MAX.  Hum!  [Aside.]  Then  they  had  plenty 
to  remember. 

MAR.  Well,  the  last  time  you  came  was  soon 
after  your  duel — and  then — oh !  wasn't  there  ex- 
citement!—  You  must  remember  the  time, — 
your  duel  with  the  Volunteer,  I  mean — 

MAX.  [Embarrassed.]  The  Vol —  hum! — 
oh,  yes ! —  But  you  were  going  to  tell  me  about 
the  vow  you  made, — how  about  that?  What 
was  it? 

MAR.  Well,  we  pledged  ourselves. —  Ah,  but 
you  must  promise  not  to  make  fun  of  me,  Mon- 
sieur Max. 

MAX.  Now  it's  you  who  are  beginning  to 
tease  me — you  say  you  pledged  yourselves — 

MAR.  That  after  we  left  the  convent  we  would 
remain  in  the  outside  world  one  year, — but  at 


58  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

the  termination  of  that  period,  provided  we  had 
become  disgusted  with  what  we  had  experienced, 
we  would — re-enter  it  forever. 

MAX.  [Aside.}  This  child  is  quite  a  curios- 
ity—  [Aloud.}  You  did  not  allow  yourself  too 
much  time. —  What  became  of  the  others — Ma- 
demoiselle Cecile — 

MAR.  Oh,  she  has  only  left  the  convent  six 
months. 

MAX.  But  remains  outside  its  walls,  eh? 

MAR.  Yes, — at  least  she  did  the  last  time  I  saw 
her — she  was  dressed  in  the  latest  fashion — 

MAX.   Ah,  indeed! — 

MAR.  She  spoke  of  nothing  but  garden  parties 
and  balls.  She  told  me  she  was  trying  to  dis- 
cover if  it  was  really  her  vocation, — but  I  should 
have  been  afraid. 

MAX.  Yes,  yes,  Mademoiselle;  that's  right- 
there  is  no  need  for  you  to  make  any  such  ex- 
periments.— Now  tell  me  about  Mademoiselle 
Regina. 

MAR.   Oh,  she  has  married. 

MAX.  Ah,  I  thought  so.—  Well,  one  out  of 
three  is  not  a  large  per  cent. 

MAR.    She  married  her  cousin. 

MAX.    Oh,  yes,  they  always  do. 

MAR.  Such  a  charming  young  man, — but  he 
is  only  twenty-five  years  old. 

MAX.      [Quickly.}      "Only   twenty-five   years 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  59 

old" — ah!  then  you  think  that —  [Aside.}  This 
is  an  uncommonly  nice  girl,  uncommonly  nice. — 
[Aloud.}  And  she  has  really  married  him — 

MAR.  Oh,  yes, — she  informed  me  in  her  last 
letter —  [Feeling  in  her  pocket.} 

MAX.  Take  my  word  for  it,  yon  will  do  as 
she  has  done, — you  will  find  your  cousin. —  Oh, 
I  know  you  are  going  to  say — you  don't  think 
you  have  a  cousin, — but  you  will  find  one  some 
day — and  a  very  lucky  cousin  he'll  be. 

MAR.  [Still  searching.}  I  must  have  lost  it. — 
Oh,  I  remember, — I  put  it  in  my  sketch-book ! — 
O  dear,  O  dear!  what  shall  I  do?  [Crosses 
«PL.\ 

MAX.   We  will  search  for  it  together. 

MAR.  No,  no;  indeed  you  must  not  look — 
[Back  C.} 

MAX.  [Remonstrating.]  Why?  Why,  just 
now — 

MAR.    No,  no;  promise  me  you  will  not. 

MAX.  Ah,  I  will  promise  everything  you  de- 
sire. 

MAR.  [Hunting  about.]  I  remember  putting 
the  letter  in  the  sketch-book.  Oh,  it  may  have 
dropped  out  of  my  pocket  in  [Crosses  R.]  my 
room.  I  went  up  there. —  I'll  run  up  and  see, — 
and  you  won't  say  a  word  about  it  to  any  one; 
you  promise? 

MAX.    [Laughing.]      Faithfully. 


60  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAR.  Indeed;  but  I  beg  you  to  be  silent, 
[Exit  Martha  R.] 

MAX.  This  is  very  curious — my  mind  is  be- 
wildered— girls  are  [Drops  to  window  L.]  in- 
explicable beings. —  I  wonder  where  the  sketch- 
book Dan  be?  [Enter  Moisand  without  seeing 
or  being  seen  by  Max,  holding  Martha's  sketch- 
book in  his  hand.  Max  looking  about.} 

Mois.  [Looking  at  book.}  It's  past  belief — • 
past  belief! —  "Monsieur  de  Simiers  on  foot." 
[Turning  over  pages.}  "Monsieur  de  Simiers 
on  horseback."  "Monsieur  de  Simiers  in  the 
convent"  —  nothing  but  Monsieur  de  Simiers! 
This  is  the  reason  she  always  had  the  book, — 
and  this  letter  from  her  friend !  Oh,  it's-  all  as 
clear  as  day.  But  Monsieur  Max  must  see  this — 
he  must  find  it  by  chance.  But  how?  [Sees 
Max,  —  conceals  book.]  Ah,  Monsieur  de 
Simiers,  were  you  waiting  for  Pepa? 

MAX.  [Surprised.]  Good  gracious,  no! — why 
do  you  ask  ? 

Mois.  I  thought  for  the  swimming  lesson, — 
it  is  five  o'clogk —  [Puts  book  stealthily  under 
Max's  hat.] 

MAX.  [Preoccupied.]  So  soon —  [Still  search- 
ing.} 

Mois.   Are  you  looking  for  your  hat? 

MAX.    My  hat?    Oh,  no. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  61 

Mois.  [Places  book  on  walking  stick.]  Don't 
you  find  Pepa  a  very  charming  young  woman  ? 

MAX.  [Preoccupied.]  It's  very  curious  where 
it  can  be. 

Mois.     Eh? 

MAX.  Oh,  yes;  a  very  sensible  child,  and 
with  so  much  candor.  [Before  sofa.] 

Mois.    [Astonished.]    What!  Pepa? 

MAX.  [Pulling  himself  together.]  Eh?  Yes, 
yes,  Pepa  —  charming  creature. 

Mois.  Are  you  going  to  prepare  for  your 
swim?  [Hiding  book  under  Max's  gloves.} 

MAX.       [Going.]       Yes  —  exactly.       [Crosses 


Mois.  Monsieur  de  Sirmers,  you  are  forget- 
ting your  gloves. 

MAX.  Oh,  thanks  ;  I  never  wear  them  when  I 
swim.  [Exit,  still  searching,  R.] 

Mois.  How  provoking;  but  I  must  manage  to 
make  him  see  it  somehow.  —  Heigh-o,  I'll  put 
it  here  under  his  hat,  —  he  must  find  it  in  the  end. 
[Enter  Pepa  in  white.] 

PEPA.  Here  I  am  —  IOOK  at  me  —  arrayed  for 
victory.  [C.] 

Mois.  Very  pretty.  —  He  has  only  just  gone, 
—  and  he  was  saying  such  pretty  things  about 
you.  [Crosses  C.] 

PEPA.  Yes?  He  will  say  a  great  many  more 
before  he  gets  through,  —  wait  till  the  rescue. 


62  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

[Drops  down  R.  Enter  H ermine,  dressed  in 
white.]  Eh?  What's  this?  You?  In  white,— 
trying  to  ruin  my  effect — 

HER.  [Indignant.]  I?  indeed.  [Drops  to 
sofa  down  L.  Moisand  up  L.] 

PEPA.  Never  mind;  it  would  not  matter — if 
you  had  put  on  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow. — 
Tomorrow  I  intend  to  carry  him  off, — do  you 
hear? — everything  will  be  arranged  tonight — 
for  I  mean  to  have  him  save  my  life  at  once. 
[Crosses  L.  above  table.]  Mark  my  words — 

Mois.  [Trying  to  get  Pepa  away.]  Come, 
Mademoiselle,  come.  [Crosses  up  L.] 

PEPA.  And  you  will  not  prevent  him  from 
making  love  to  me  as  everyone  else  has  done — 
everyone  else —  [E.rit  with  Moisand.] 

HER.  Oh,  this  is  intolerable!  [Proceeds  to 
glass  up  C.]  I'll  give  this  sculptor  fellow's 
daughter  the  lesson  she  deserves —  [Enter  Max, 
still  searching.] 

MAX.  I  can't  find  it  anywhere —  [Down  to 
table  R.] 

HER.  [Seeing  Max.]  I'll  give  you  that  lesson 
now,  Monsieur  de  Simiers. 

MAX.     Madame. 

HER.  I  told  you  once  I  was  your  friend, — 
now  I  am  going  to  prove  it. 

MAX.     Already  ? 

HER.     Beware  of  Pepa. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  63 

MAX.    I  always  am. 

HER.     Ah!   but   you   don't   know   all.      She 
means  to  make  you  appear  a  fool. 

MAX.    A  fool? 

HER.  Yes,  a  perfect  fool, — an  old  fool, — by 
having  you  propose  to  her,  and  then  to  laugh  at 
you.  She  told  Monsieur  Moisand  and  myself  so. 
I  know  I  am  wrong  to  tell  you  this — but  [Crosses. 
R.]  as  some  one  is  to  be  deceived,  I  prefer  it 
shall  be  she !  [Max  up  L.  Enter  Pepa  at  backJ\ 
Here  she  is —  [Going.]  Remember,  I  have  told 
you  nothing.  [E.rits  up  R.] 

MAX.    [Aside.]    "A  fool !"— "An  old  fool  !"- 
Ah,  Mademoiselle  Rimband,  you  have  gone  too 
far.     [DownR.] 

PEPA.  Well,  Monsieur  de  Simiers,  what  of 
our  swim  ?  I  am  waiting  for  you. 

MAX.  Mademoiselle,  you  need  not  wait  for 
me. 

PEPA.    Eh? 

MAX.  The  lesson  you  wish  to  give  me,  in 
modesty,  I  can  dispense  with, — but  would  in  ex- 
change, if  you  will  permit  me,  give  you  some 
advice. 

PEPA.    Advice  ? 

MAX.  Yes —  When  a  woman  braves  every- 
thing— says  everything — dares  everything,  in 
fact,  unsexes  herself  and  becomes  like  a  man, 
she  rarely  charms  one. 


64  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTPI 

PEPA.  [Laughs.  Aside  afterwards.]  Her-* 
mine  has  spoken. 

MAX.  [Continuing.]  So  much  flutter  forces 
one  to  believe  in  the  emptiness  of  her  mind,  and 
so  much  coquetry,  in  the  hollowness  of  her  heart. 

PEPA.  [Forcedly  laughing.  Aside.]  Hermine 
has  spoken. 

MAX.  Should  she  continue  as  she  has  begun, 
in  appearing  as  she  really  is  not, — we  fear  after 
a  time  she  herself  may  forget  to  remember  what 
indeed  she  really  is. 

PEPA.    Eh? 

MAX.  And  that,  having  renounced  our  re- 
spect— she  may  care  but  little  for  our  esteem. 

PEPA.  [Suffocating.]  Your — your —  [Sneer- 
ingly.]  Well,  then,  one  can  dispense  with  it,  won 
ami. —  Present  my  compliments  to  the  lady  of 
Sagancy — your  dear  Hermine — your  esteem! — 
Oh,  this  is  the  first  time  I  was  ever  spoken  to  in 
this  way  in  my  life.  [Exit  up  L.] 

MAX.  Severe  but  just. —  Heigh-o,  what 
folly!  [Takes  up  hat  and  discovers  sketch- 
book.] Is  it  possible  ? — Yes,  here  it  is, — well,  what 
a  chance, — Martha's  sketch-book. —  I  wonder 
what  is  in  it. —  I  am  curious. —  I  suppose  my 
caricature,  among  others.  But  I  promised  not 
to  look  for  it. —  Well,  I  didn't,— I  found  it,  and 
as  a  reward,  here  goes.  [Open  book.]  My  por- 
trait on  horseback, — another  picture  of  myself — 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  65 

and  this  time  in  the  convent. —  Oh,  yes,  I  rec- 
ognize the  room, — on  the  I7th  of  December, 
probably  the  date  of  my  first  visit.  Another 
picture  of  myself — date,  26th  of  April — and  still 
another, — I2th  of  June —  [A  letter  falls  out, — he 
picks  it  up.]  What  have  we  here?  "And  I  am 
positive  that  he  loves  you."  Ah !  this  is  evidently 
Regina's  letter  the  White  Mouse  spoke  of  — 
[Reading  again.]  "And  I  am  positive  he  loves 
you." — I  knew  there  was  something  romantic 
about  all  this.  [Reading.]  "And  I  am  positive 
he  loves  you,  for  since  he  seems  to  detest  you, 
it  is  a  sure  proof  he  is  really  in  love  all  the  time." 
This  young  lady  seems  to  be  an  old  hand  at 
logic.  [Reading.]  "Be  assured  your  Marquis 
loves  you  as  much  as  you  love  your  Marquis." — 
Your  Marquis — it  cannot  be — your  Marquis — 
[Enter  Martha.]  Here  she  is —  [Conceals  let- 
ter and  book.] 

MAR.  I  cannot  find  my  book  anywhere, — and 
you? 

MAX.  [Quickly.]  Oh,  I  haven't  been  looking 
for  it. 

MAR.  [Going.]  I  am  going  to  search  on  the 
lawn — 

MAX.  [Detaining  her.]  Why  should  you? 
Stay  here ;  it  is  dark  now.  You  will  not  be  able 
to  find  it. 

MAR.    But  it  is  absolutely  necessary — 


66  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.  [Persuasively.]  Oh,  no,  it  is  not — sit 
here — and  we  will  have  a  little  quiet  talk — I  know 
you  won't  refuse  me —  [Aside.}  The  letter 
must  have  referred  to  me —  [Aloud.]  Why, 
how  you  look  at  me ;  what  is  the  matter?  [They 
sit  sofa,  L.] 

MAR.  I  am  only  so  astonished,  Monsieur  Max, 
to  find  you  sitting  here, — close  to  me, — with  me, 
— when  only  this  morning — 

MAX.  Ah!  this  morning?  We  will  not  refer 
to  this  morning — we  did  not  know  each  other 
then — although  we  had  been  acquainted  so  long 
— nearly  four  years  indeed!  Do  you  remember 
the  first  time  I  came  to  see  you  in  the  convent  ? — 
It  was  the — hem! — the  I7th  of  December. 

MAR.    What!  do  you  remember  the  date? 

MAX.  I  should  think  so.  [Aside.]  I  am 
right — I  am  right —  [Aloud.]  The  second  time 
was  on  the  26th  of  April — and  the  third — hem ! — 
let  me  see — 

VI AR.  The  1 2th  of  June — ah,  you  had  for- 
gotten that  one. 

MAX.  Is  it  possible  you  have  remembered  it? 
[Aside.]  Is  it  I?— I  am  "her  Marquis"— 

MAR.  Yes,  and  I  also  recollect  that  on  one 
occasion — 

MAX.    The  I2th  of  June  ?— 

MAR.  The  I2th  of  June, — you  looked  very 
tired,  and  you  were  yawning  and  gaping  all  the 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  67 

time — and  Regina  was  in  an  ecstacy —  She  said 
to  me  afterwards,  ''What  an  aristocratic  air  your 
Marquis  has ! — it's  most  becoming." 

MAX.  Then  it  was  I — I  whom  they  called 
"Your  Marquis." 

MAR.  Oh,  it  was  not  I  who  did  so,  but  the 
girls— 

MAX.  And — and — were  there  no  others? — 

MAR.    "No  others"? 

MAX.  Who  came  to  see  you, — whom  they 
called, — in  fact,  no  other  Marquises? 

MAR.     Oh,  no. 

MAX.  [Aside.]  It  is  I —  [Aloud.]  My  pre- 
cious child ! — 

MAR.    What  do  you  mean? — 

MAX.  What  do  I  mean?  This  unexpected 
surprise — is  so  delightful — I  feel  such  joy — 

MAR.    Such  joy?    Why? 

MAX.  Because  at  least  we  are  reconciled  to 
each  other. —  Is  it  possible  you  do  not  also  feel 
happy  at  this,  my  dear  Martha? 

MAR.  Ah! —  [An  exclamation  of  glad  sur- 
prise.] 

MAX.    What  is  it? 

MAR.  That  is  the  first  time  you  have  called 
me  by  my  name. 

MAX.  And  are  you  angry  with  me  for  so 
doing? 

MAR.    Oh,  no.     [Aside.]    He  called  me  "dear 


68  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

Martha."  [Aloud.]  How  good  you  are,  Mon- 
sieur Max! —  Can  it,  then,  be  true  what  Clo- 
tilde  always  used  to  say  to  me, — that  in  the 
corner  of  your  heart  you  have  a  little  bit  of 
affection  for  me? 

MAX.  Ah,  dear  Martha,  to  say  so!  A  little 
bit, — an  enormous  amount — 

MAR.  [Laughingly.]  Then  the  corner  must 
be  very  small; — for  at  one  time  I  know  you 
hated  me— no;  I  mean  disliked  me — I  was  so 
awkward — so  nervous — and  bashful, —  and  bash- 
fulness  is  a  dreadful  thing — it  is  to  be  perpet- 
ually imprisoned  within  one's  self.  At  the 
slightest  cause  your  cheek  turns  pale — and  for 
no  cause  at  all  it  turns  red  again.  If  you  speak, 
the  sound  of  your  own  voice  terrifies  you, — and 
if  you  remain  silent  it  is  equally  embarrassing. — 
You  become  desolate — and  sorrowful — and  mis- 
erable, and  cry  out:  "He  can  never  know  me — 
he  does  not  know  me — to  him  I  am  always  in- 
significant, stupid  and  dull — and  it  is  my  fault 
alone — it  is  he  who  is  right — it  is  he —  [Recover- 
ing herself]  or  she,  Monsieur  Max — or  she,  as 
the  case  may  be — 

MAX.  [Laughing.]  Of  course.  But  you  said 
when  one  is  timid.  It  is  the  fear  of  not  being 
beloved,  and  that  is  terrible,  is  it  not  ? 

MAR.    Yes,  yes;  very  terrible, — but  how  can 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  69 

you  possibly  know  that,  you  have  always  been 
so  loved? 

MAX.  [Astonished.]  How,  in  my  turn, — may 
I  ask, — can  you  possibly  know  that? 

MAR.  I  see  it  here  every  day — I  see  how  these 
ladies  surround  you — oh,  how  I  envy  these 
ladies! — especially  Madame  Sagancy — 

MAX.     [Pleased.]   Are  you  jealous  of  her? 

MAR.   Oh,  no ;  she  is  married. 

MAX.  What  innocence!  [Aside.]  But  what 
of  Mademoiselle  Pepa  ? 

MAR.  Oh,  Mademoiselle  Pepa — is  different. — 
She  is  too  forward — and  runs  after  you  so — 
seems  to  follow  you  everywhere.  Oh,  I  don't 
like  her  at  all, — not  at  all. 

MAX.  Ah!  I  see;  it  is  Mademoiselle  Pepa 
you  are  jealous  of. 

MAR.    Of  Pepa? 

MAX.    Yes;  she  is  not  married. 

MAR.  No — that's  true —  But  I, — jealous  of 
her?  Why —  [Turning  to  Max.}  Oh!  do  you 
love  her,  then? — 

MAX.  Oh,  my  Martha?  [About  to  tell  her 
his  love,  when  voices  heard  outside.} 

MAR.  Some  one  is  coming,  —  let  us  hide. 
[Exit  R.} 

MAX.  Let  us  hide — oh,  this  is  delightful! — 
O  God!  I  am  a  boy  again!  [Exit,  following 
Martha.  Enter  Clotilde  and  Moisand.  Clotilde 


70  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

catches  sight  of  disappearing  figures,  and  Moi- 
sand,  to  her  look  of  inquiry,  says,  "Pepa."] 

[CURTAIN.] 


ACT  III. 

[At  rise  MOISAND  centre. — HERMINE  left. — 
PEPA  right.— Scene  as  in  Acts  I  and  II. 

Mois.  [Walks  up  and  down.}  Too  soon, — 
she  has  come  back  too  soon.  O  dear!  O  dear! 
it  will  all  begin  over  again,  I  am  sure.  Was 
there  ever  such  misfortune?  My  dear  friends, 
we  must  put  our  heads  together  and  plan  some- 
thing new.  What  are  we  to  do,  Madame 
Sagancy? — can't  you  suggest  something? 

HER.  I  ?  Oh,  I  must  beg  to  be  excused,  reai- 
ly.  I  have  not  closed  my  eyes  all  night.  I  am 
suffering  great  pain  with  my  heart  this  morning ; 
and,  moreover,  I  never  interfere  with  another's 
affairs. 

PEPA.    Oh,  don't  you  ? 

HER.  Pray,  consult  Mademoiselle  Rimband, 
who  has  undertaken  everything — 

PEPA.    Oh,  have  I  ? 

Mois.   Then  Mademoiselle — 

PEPA.  Oh,  no,  no, — as  Madame  Sagancy  has 
not  interfered  in  the  matter  up  till  now.  she  can 
give  you  a  more  unbiased  opinion. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  71 

Mois.  My  friends,  I  beg  of  you  both, — we  had 
never  more  need  of  harmony. —  Madame 
Sagancy — 

HER.  You  must  really  not  believe  Mademoi- 
selle Rimband.  She  is  evidently  concealing  her 
success  from  us. —  Her  infallible  plan  of  falling 
in  the  water  and  being  rescued  has  had  its  an- 
ticipated effect. —  She  had  her  intended  meet- 
ing with  Monsieur  de  Simiers  last  night,  and 
will  carry  him  off  today. 

Mois.  Oh,  did  you?  Ah!  then  it's  true,  last 
evening — 

PEPA.     Ach.     [Stamps  up  and  doivn  in  rage.] 

HER.    Oh,  but  tell  us  all  about  it. 

PEPA.  You  know  very  well  there  is  nothing  to 
tell. 

Mois.    What!    Why  allow  me — 

HER.  Indeed —  Dear  me !  what  a  disappoint- 
ment ! — and  why  ? 

PEPA.  Why?  Because  Monsieur  Max  was 
on  his  guard.  He  had  been  told  and  forewarned 
of  my  plans.  But  I  can  assure  that  person  that 
she  shall  not  enjoy  her  triumph  long.  I  mean 
to  have  my  revenge, — do  you  hear,  Hermine? — 
my  revenge! 

HER.  I  hear,  darling,  but  I  do  not  understand. 

PEPA.   Oh,  indeed!     [Aside.]     The  hypocrite. 

Mois.  Will  you  allow  me?  —  I  understand 
something  about  this  matter.  [To  PC  pa.]  You 


72  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

say  you  had  no  meeting  with  Monsieur  Max  here 
last  evening?  —  then  who  was  here  with  him 
when  Clotilde  and  I  entered? 

PEPA.    Yesterday?    [Rises.] 

HER.    At  night?     [Looks  at  Pepa.    Rises.] 

PEPA.    In  this  room?    [Looks  at  H ermine.] 

Mois.    Yes,  here, — who  was  the  woman? 

PEPA  and  HER.    A  woman? 

Mois.  Who  ran  away  as  we  entered  ? —  I  saw 
her  quite  distinctly.  [To  H  ermine.] 

PEPA.    A  woman?    [Crosses  to  Moisan-d.] 

Mois.    Yes. 

HER.  With  him?    [Crosses  to  Moisand.] 

Mois.    Yes. 

HER.  and  PEPA.    And  you  saw  her? 

Mois.  Yes — yes — yes — saw  her  distinctly.  So 
did  Clotilde.  I  did  not  recognize  her,  but  saw 
her — saw  her. 

PEPA.  [Bursting  into  laughs.]  Ha! — ha! — 
ha ! —  Well  done ! — capital ! —  [Mock  courtesy 
to  H  ermine.]  Ha! — ha! — ha! —  This  time  it 
is  excellent —  Brava! — brava! — Hermine. 

HER.  What  are  you  saying?  what  do  you 
mean  ? 

PEPA.  I  say,  this  time  you  have  done  it  neat- 
ly. Brava! —  Very  well  done! —  Accept  my 
congratulations, — you  have  conquered. 

HER.    I  repeat,  I  don't  know  what  you  mean? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  73 

PEPA.  Oh,  come,  come, — you  may  as  well 
admit  it.  [R.  of  table.] 

HER.  [Furious.]  Admit  it! — when  it  was  you 
all  the  time.  [Crosses  to  L.  of  table.] 

PEPA.  I  ?  Oh,  this  is  going  too  far.  I  ?  Oh, 
let  me  tell  [Crosses  tip  L.  C.]  you  some  plain 
facts,  Monsieur  Moisand, — and  you  too,  Her- 
mine.  You,  and  only  you,  were  here  with  Mon- 
sieur de  Simiers  last  evening;  and  it  is  in  a  line 
with  the  rest  of  your  work, — you  miserable 
hypocrite! — for  you  have  been  playing  false  to 
Clotilde,  and  to  me,  and  to  every  one  else;  and 
you  have  not,  and  never  had,  a  thought  beyond 
yourself ! —  There ! 

HER.  [Staggering.]  This  is  monstrous.  [Sits 
at  L.  of  table.] 

PEPA.  It  is  the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
truth.  As  for  this  man,  I  am  going  to  give  him 
a  piece  of  my  mind  that  will  open  his  eyes.  [Exit 
up  L.] 

HER.  [Half  fainting.]  Oh,  what  a  dreadful 
creature. 

Mois.  Madame —    [Crosses  to  H ermine.] 

HER.  Oh,  how  I  suffer! — what  pain  I  am  in! 
— she  has  killed  me. 

Mois.  Take  heart, — all  will  yet  be  well. 

HER.  No — no — it  shall  never  be  said  she  had 
the  last  word,  —  I'll  not  endure  that —  [Exit 
up  L.  after  Pepa.] 


74  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

[CLOTILDE  appears  at  back  during  last 
speech,  and  watches  H ermine  off.} 

Mois.  [Exhausted.}  O  dear!  O  dear!  [Crosses 
down  L.,  sits.} 

CLO.  Well,  it  seems  to  be  decreed  that  every 
one  is  to  fly  from  me  directly  I  make  my  appear- 
ance. 

Mois.   [Springing  up.}   Clotilde! 

CLO.  What  is  happening  here,  Father?  What 
is  the  matter  with  you  all  ? 

Mois.  It  is  you  who  have  something  on  your 
mind, — yes,  ever  since  your  return, — won't  you 
tell  me  what  it  is?  [Back  C.} 

CLO.  Father,  this  is  subterfuge.  You  are  only 
pretending  to  be  astonished  when  I  say  I  am 
surprised,  and  you  cover  it  up  by  asking  what  is 
the  matter  with  me. 

Mois.  Well,  why  will  you  not  confide  in  me  ? — 
What  has  happened  since  your  absence.  What 
did  the  lawyer  want  with  you  ?  Won't  you  tell  ? 
[Aside.}  Well,  I  have  taken  the  precaution  to 
write  to  the  lawyer  myself,  and  anxiously  await 
his  reply.  [Crosses  L.  to  table.} 

CLO.  I  will  tell  you  all  when  I  know  what  has 
taken  place  here.  Won't  you  tell  me?  [Crosses 
L.,  sits  on  sofa.  ] 

Mois.  But  there  is  nothing  to  tell.  And,  be- 
sides, what  interest  to  you  can  the  doings  of 
these  people  be? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  75 

CLO.  What  interest  ?  Oh  none,  of  course ;  but, 
being  a  woman,  I  am  curious,  and  I  want  to 
know  if  you  are  sure  it  was  Pepa. 

Mois.    Pepa  ? 

CLO.  Yes,  yesterday  evening — here — with — 
Monsieur  Max.  You  said  that — 

Mois.  Oh,  yes,  I  said  so — because  I  thought 
so  then. 

CLO.   But  you  no  longer  believe  it? 

Mois.  Oh,  I  believed  it  then ;  but  now  I  am  not 
so  certain;  it  may  have  been  Hermine. 

CLO.    At  any  rate,  it  was  the  one  or  the  other  ? 

Mois.     Most  decidedly. 

CLO.  [Aside.]  Then  it  is  not  very  dangerous. 
— But  why  should  Pepa  have  such  very  red  eyes  ? 
That  looks  as  if  she  had  not  slept.  No — I  don't 
understand  this —  [Aloud.]  Go  and  say  I  am 
waiting. 

Mois.    To  whom  ? 

CLO.    Max. 

Mois.  Do  you  wish  me  to,  really?  [Sits  L. 
of  table.] 

CLO.  I  beg  of  you — at  once,  too,  please.  [Enter 
Max.]  Ah!  here  he  is.  Leave  us,  please. 

Mois.  [Aside.  Rising,  going  up  L.  to  garden.] 
I  was  right. —    It's  going  to  begin  all  over  aga 
— but  I  will  stop  it. 

CLO.  [To  Moisand.]  Leave  us!  I  beg — leave 
us!  [Up  to  Moisand.  Back  to  C.] 


76  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

Mois.  [Aside,  going.]  I'll  send  Hermine — or 
Pepa — or  Martha — or  any  one  I  can  find — I'll 
not  leave  them  together  for  an  instant, — oh,  I 
will  stop  it.  [Exit  L.] 

CLO.  Were  you  looking  for  me,  Max  ? 

MAX.  No — I  mean — I  was  only  looking  first — 
I  mean  I  want  you  to  accept  my  apologies — 

CLO.  For  what?    [Turns  away.} 

MAX.  Oh,  yesterday,  on  your  arrival — I — I — 
scarcely  asked  you  how  you  were — or — I  was  so 
preoccupied. 

CLO.  Yes?  But  you  are  so  still,  are  you  not? 
[Crosses  L.,  sits  sofa.] 

MAX.  You  had  a  pleasant  journey — I  trust — 
nothing  occurred  to  annoy  you. 

CLO.  Come — come — my  dear  Max,  tell  me  at 
once  what  you  want  to  say,  won't  you? 

MAX.  What  I  want?— 

CLO.    Yes— 

MAX.  Ah !  Clotilde,  if  you  knew  what  has  hap- 
pened to  me. 

CLO.  I  think  I  can  partly  guess. 

MAX.  You?  No,  indeed  you  cannot — for  it 
happened  in  such  a  wonderful  way — but  I  don't 
see  how  I  can  tell  you. 

CLO.  You  know  you  can  confide  everything 
in  me. 

MAX.  Oh,  yes,  I  know — but  it  sounds  mad — 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  77 

anything  you  like —  Oh,  dear,  my  head  is  going 
round  like  a  wheel. 

CLO.  And  what  you  want  to  tell  me  is  that 
you  have  found  an  axle  to  that  wheel;  and  the 
fact  is,  you're  in  love. 

MAX.  In  love?  Oh,  dear,  no — no — no — in 
love? —  I  can't,  I  will  not  be — love  is  one  of 
those  diseases  that  are  mortal  at  my  age — but 
when  one  seldom  takes  it — it  must  be  sought 
after,  so  to  speak —  Now,  I  don't  mean  to  treat 
myself  to  that  ailment — but  I  wish  I  had  been 
less  affected  when  I  learned  that  this  charming 
young — that  this  person  I  mean. 

CLO.    [Aside.]    Is  it  Pepa?—- 

MAX.  [Breaking  off.]  There,  I  cannot  explain 
— for  it  is  not  my  secret — 

CLO.  It  is  Pepa.   [Aside.] 

MAX.  I  was  amazed — staggered.  I  am  per- 
fectly calm  now — but  yesterday — oh,  you  should 
have  seen  me  yesterday. 

CLO.     [Aside.]     Pepa. 

MAX.  I  said  to  myself,  "I  must  have  mis- 
understood her  meaning" — but  you  know  there 
is  nothing  to  misunderstand — she  told  me  all  so 
plainly. 

CLO.     [Astonished.]     She  told  you? 

MAX.  That  she  loves  me.  As  plainly  as  a 
woman  can. 

CLO.   [Aside.]   Oh!  no  one  but  Pepa — 


78  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.  Ah!  but  isn't  man  a  strange  creature 
after  all— Clotilde — eh?  Here  is  a  gentleman 
— myself  indeed — who  yesterday  thought  no 
more  of — of — this  person  than  of  any  one  else — 
but  chance  brought  them  together — and,  well, 
what  happened  I  can  hardly  tell — a  head  bent 
low — a  voice  trembled — a  tear  fell — and  behold! 
a  lost  man — his  brains  turned,  his  heart  gone. 

CLO.  Then  tell  me,  please,  how  can  I  help  you 
in  all  this? — 

_£AX.  Ah,  exactly,  I  was  coming  to  that.  I 
want  to  ask  you — what  shall  I  do?  The  situa- 
tion is  a  very  delicate  one. —  Here  is  a  young — 
a — in  fact  a  charming  person,  who — to  whom — 
I  am  not  indifferent — now  what  shall  I  do? — go 
away?  That  would  be — ah — ah — unmannerly. — 
Say  nothing?  That  is  impossible. 

CLO.    Write  to  her — 

MAX.  What  have  I  to  write  about? 

CLO.   Speak  to  her — 

MAX.  But  what  should  I  say? —  "Mademoi- 
selle,"— or  Madame — or  Madame — "You  have 
made  a  sad  mistake, — you  cannot  love  me — nor  I 
you."  You  see  what  nonsense.  Poor  ch — I 
mean  poor  person — what  shall  I  do?  If  I  were 
not  so  old — .  [Pulling  himself  together.}  I  mean 
I  am  resolved — quite  resolved — that  this  affair 
shall  be  over. —  Find  me  a  way,  and  I'll  prove  it. 

CLO.    Perhaps  I  can. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  79 

MAX.    You  ?    How  ?— 

CLO.  Oh,  not  so  fast.  First  prove  to  me  you 
are  in  earnest  and  your  good  fortune  really  dis- 
tresses you, — then  afterwards — later  on — well, 
we  shall  see —  [Enter  H ermine.]  Ah,  here  she 
is — look — 

MAX.    Who? 

CLO.  The  young  lady — or  the  lady — or  the 
lady — 

MAX.  [Seeing  H ermine.]  Oh —  [Sneering- 
ly.] 

CLO.  It  is  not  she,  then  ? 

MAX.  Ah,  well,  if  I  tell  you  who  it  is  not,  you 
will  very  soon  find  out  who  it  is. 

CLO.  [Aside.]  It  is  Pepa—  [Aloud.]  Well, 
since  I  do  not  know  for  [Rises]  certain  it  is  not 
Hermine — and  have  no  desire  to  be  a  [Crosses 
R.]  nuisance,  I  will  leave  you. 

MAX.  With  the  effigy?  Tell  me  my  way  to 
escape  beforehand. 

CLO.  No,  no — later  on.  Begin  to  prove  your 
distress  now —  [Aside.]  It  can  only  be  Pepa. 
[£*&&] 

HER.    [To  Max.]   Well,  here  I  am— 

MAX.   Yes,  Madame.    Can  I  do  anything? 

HER.  Monsieur  Moisand  told  me  you  wished 
to  speak  to  me. 

MAX.    I?    Oh,  he  made  a  mistake — I  mean — 

HER.    Oh,  then,  he  evidently  wished  to  say 


8o  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

something  agreeable  to  me — but  before  going  I 
have  something  I  would  like  to  ask  you.  [Looks 
off  up  R.] 

MAX.  What  is  it,  dear  Madame? 

HER.  I  was  looking  to  see  that  Pepa  was  not 
Coming.  [Sighs.  Max  shows  her  to  sofa.  She 
sits.]  Uncertainty  is  too  trying — Monsieur  de 
Simiers,  do  you  advise  me  to  get  a  divorce  ? 

MAX.  [Amazed.]  To  what? — you  said — you — 
[Sits  at  table  L.] 

HER.  Ah,  every  one, — all  my  friends  and  rela- 
tives and  family  solicitor  have  advised  that 
course;  for,  ah!  Monsieur  Max,  I  have  never 
known  true  happiness,  believe  me. 

MAX.    Now  I  am  in  for  it. 

HER.  When  quite  young,  I  may  say  little  more 
than  a  child,  I  was  married  to  my  valetudina- 
rian— 

MAX.     [Aside.]    Must  I  listen  to  all  this? 

HER.  [Frightened.]  What's  wrong?  Can  you 
see  Pepa? 

MAX.  No,  no.   [Aside.]   Unfortunately. 

HER.  Well,  at  last,  my  antiquity,  moved  by 
pity,  asked  for  a  separation  and  obtained  it, — 
then  I  was  thrown  by  Mademoiselle  Pepa  into 
that  gay  world  for  which  I  have  neither  taste 
nor  inclination.  Alone  and  yet  not  free, — loving 
without  having  been  beloved, — married  without 
a  husband?  [Max  rises.]  Eh,  is  it  she? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  oi 

MAX.  But,  pray  tell  me,  what  use  can  I  be  to 
you  in  this  dilemma? 

HER.  A  still  small  voice  forbade  me  to  look 
forward  to  the  future  with  hope — to  joy — to 
happiness.  Until  the  present  I  have  listened  to 
its  dictates. —  It  is  only  for  the  last  few  days 
that  I— 

MAX.    [Looking  off].  Here  is  Pepa. 

HER.  [Going.]  She? — oh,  I  will  tell  you  the 
rest  later  on.  [Crosses  R.  C.] 

MAX.  [Detaining  her.]  No,  no;  please  finish 
your  story  now — make  haste. —  "For  the  last 
few  days"— 

HER.  Well,  for  the  last  few  days,  I  have  com- 
menced to  hope  again. 

MAX.  In  short,  you  are  anxious  to  marry 
again — eh  ? 

HER.     Perhaps. 

MAX.    To  find  another  husband? 

HER.    Yes— 

MAX.  Some  jolly  old  fellow  like  Monsieur 
Moisand. 

HER.  Oh,  no,  no, — not — that — not  that. —  In 
you  my  confidence  is  boundless.  [Crosses  to 
back  of  chair  at  table  R.] 

MAX.    Oh,  yes,  I  see. 

HER.  Tell  me  you  are  anxious  I  should  obtain 
a  divorce  and  I  will  do  so,  to  marry  a  certain 
person,  and  your  wish  shall  be  obeyed. 


82  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.     But  whom? 

HER.    [Going.]   Whom  you  please. 

MAX.  [Gallantly  relaxing  and  kissing  her 
hand.]  Oh,  Madame!  [Enter  Pepa.] 

HER.  [Conscious  of  Pe pa's  presence.  To  Max.] 
Whom  you  please.  [Exit  up  R.] 

MAX.  [Aside,  in  glee.]  I  can  marry  them  all 
if  I  like.  [Down  L.  at  table.] 

PEPA.  Was  it  to  see  this  Monsieur  Moisand 
sent  me  here? 

MAX.  [Aside.]  It  seems  he  intended  to  send 
the  entire  household. 

PEPA.  All  the  time  I  wish  to  speak  a  few 
words  to  you.  [C.] 

MAX.     [Aside.]     She  too. 

PEPA.  I  will  only  detain  you  a  minute, — I 
have  come  expressly  to  say — if  I  have  appeared 
to  be  making  advances  to  you — 

MAX.    You  ?— Oh !— oh !— oh  !- 

PEPA.  There  is  no  need  for  modesty  now. 
If  ever  I  have  appeared  to  be  making  advances 
to  you — it  was  only  under  compunction — and 
was  ordered  by  —  by  someone  whose  secret  I 
must  not  divulge. 

MAX.    Oh,  indeed — 

PEPA.  Never  for  one  instant  was  my  heart 
affected. 

MAX.    It  is  needless  to  say  so. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  83 

PEPA.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  most  necessary 
to  assure  you  I  have  been  only  playing  a  part. 

MAX.    Oh,  indeed. 

PEPA.  Now  one  thing  more, — seeing  I  am 
on  this  subject,  and  you  can  answer  me  frankly 
like  a  man,  for  it  seems  to  you  I  resemble  one — 

MAX.    Oh,  I  did  not  say  so. 

PEPA.  Yes  you  did, — yes  you  did; — but  we 
will  not  refer  to  that  again. —  Answer  me  this, 
— Why  do  you  prefer  Hermine  to  me? 

MAX.    What? 

PEPA.  Admit  there  is  a  reason.  There  must 
be  a  reason — oh,  you  men ! — you  are  poor  miser- 
able things. —  Even  a  little  frankness  upsets 
you.  You  actually  like  to  be  deceived,  and  it's 
a  great  consolation  to  know  you  are  seldom  dis- 
appointed. But  for  all  that,  there  was  no  reason 
that  I  'can  see  for  you  to  speak — to  pretend — to 
believe  that  I — I— cared  for  you  [Breaking 
down];  and  I  hate  you! — I  hate  you!! — I  hate 
you!!!  [Bursting  into  tears,  up  L.] 

MAX.    O  Mademoiselle  Pepa — 

PEPA.  [Through  her  tears.]  Well,  what  is  it? 
—What's  the  matter? 

MAX.  Oh,  if  you  only  knew  how  happy  I  feel. 
[Up  to  Pepa.] 

PEPA.     [Still  crying.]     Happy? 

MAX.  Yes, — I  didn't  believe  it  possible  for 
any  one  to  hate  me  so  cordially  as  you  do. 


84  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

PEPA.  Oh,  it's  not  a  difficult  task.  [Aside.] 
Here  is  Clotilde.  [Enter  Clotilde.]  Release  my 
hand,  Monsieur.  I  don't  want  any  one  to  see  me 
— I  expect  my  nose  is  dreadfully  red,  and  my 
eyes  are  like  gooseberries — 

MAX.  [Kissing  her  hand.]  Oh,  I  thank  you 
a  thousand  times  — 

PEPA.  Release  my  hand,  I  say — for,  I  repeat, 
it  is  not  at  all  difficult  to  hate  you.  [Exit  L.] 

MAX.  [Aside,  in  glee.]  I  can  marry  them  all 
if  I  like. 

MAX.  Ah,  Clotilde,  if  you  only  knew  what 
has  just  happened  to  me. 

CLO.     What ! — again  ? 

MAX.  Oh,  don't  laugh,  I  beg  of  you, — I  feel 
quite  upset. 

CLO.    Again  ? 

MAX.  Again?  Yes;  a  hundred  times  more 
than  ever  I  did  before. —  Ah,  Clotilde,  it  is 
really  true  that  some  one  can  love  me. 

CLO.  But  on  that  point  you  seemed  already 
assured  a  short  time  ago. 

MAX.  A  short  time  ago — ah!  but  there  is  no 
longer  one — but  two — 

CLO.    [Astonished.]    TWO- 
MAX.    Yes,  two— I  should  say  three, — you  un- 
derstand. 

CLO.    Three. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  85 

MAX.  Oh,  I  am  the  cause  of  wounded  vani- 
ties— and  jealousies  and  flirtations.  But  as  these 
ladies  are  older  than  the  other  one — 

CLO.     The  other  one  ? 

MAX.  Yes;  oh,  much  older — and  it  may  not 
be  absurd  to  think  that  she  can  love  me  for  my- 
self. Since  the  others  can — 

CLO.    The  others? — which  others? 

MAX.  Why,  you  know, — Hermine  and  Pepa 
both. 

CLO.  Yes;  but  the  third — since  there  is  a 
third — the  one  who  loves  you.  [Sits  R.  of  table.] 

MAX.    They  all  love  me. 

CLO.    Then  the  one  that  you  love — 

MAX.  Yes;  but  I  don't  love  her,  I  tell  you. 
[L.] 

CLO.  Ah,  Max,  I  beg  of  you — no  more  riddles 
and  enigmas. —  Tell  me — tell  me — who  is  the 
third? 

MAX.  But  in  naming  the  other  two,  is  it  pos- 
sible I  have  not  Indicated  the  third?  Who  can 
there  be  but?— 

CLO.     [With  suppressed  cry.]     Mc.rtha! 

MAX.  Yes — yes — it  is  she — and  never — no, 
never  have  I  so  regretted  my  additional  ten 
years — 

CLO.  [Slowly.]  Then  you  are  really — really 
— in — love. 


86  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAX.  For  the  last  hour  I  would  have  given 
anything  to  say  no— but  I  can't — I  cannot. 

CLO.  And  she — she — loves — you — you  are 
certain  ? 

MAX.  Certain?  If  I  only  were —  I  am  cer- 
tain she  believes  she  does — but  is  she  sincere  to 
herself?  I  can't  tell.  These  are  the  only  proofs 
I  have — see  her  sketch-book  and  a  letter. —  Will 
you  look  at  them?  [Gives  them.]  She  is  so 
young — she  has  seen  no  one  but  me — and  you 
know,  Clo tilde,  the  first  object  of  our  love  is 
often  only  the  last  plaything  of  our  childhood. — 
That  is  why  I  hesitate, — what  shall  I  do? 

CLO.  Do?  Do  nothing.  I  vill  speak  to  her. 
[Rises,  crosses  L.  to  table.] 

MAX.  You  will  speak  to  her?  That's  odd—- 
you wished  me  to  marry  her. 

CLO.  You  do  not,  then,  wish  me  to  speak  to 
her? 

MAX.  Oh,  yes,  yes  I  do, — only  what  I  say  is — 
[MARTHA  enters  up  back  L.  just  at  door, 
turns  away  at  onte.] 

CLO.  Ah,  well,  here  she  comes.  Leave  us 
alone  together. 

MAX.    Then  you  are  going  to  tell  her? — 

CLO.  Only  that  which  is  necessary, — but  you 
[Pushing  him  to  door.] 

MAX.  Yes,  yes,  poor  child.  You  will  explain 
everything  clearly,  won't  you?  That  what  I  am 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  87 

doing  is,  is  only   from   self-abnegation,  and  — 
and — 

CLO.     Yes,  yes — 

MAX.  [Coming  back.]  That  it  is  a  resolution 
which  costs  me  great — great — 

CLO.     Yes — yes —   [S/te.] 

MAX.  Great  pain, — and  that  it  is  not  because 
I  do  not  love  her — 

CLO.  [Pushes  him  softly  to  door.]  I  will  — 
but  she  must  not  see  us  together — 

MAX.  And — and — do  not  say  there  is  too 
great  a  difference  is  our  ages, — that  would  be 
useless.  Lay  stress,  rather,  on  the  difference  in 
our  natures — our  characters — 

CLO.    Have  no  fear — 

MAX.  And,  above  all,  be  as  gentle  as  possible 
—oh ! — be  gentle. —  Do  not  cause  the  poor  child 
needless  pain. —  Perhaps,  after  all,  I  should 
have  done  better  to  speak  myself.  But  no, — 
you  are  best.  All  the  same,  I  feel  we  were  made 
for  each  other — 

CLO.    My  friend,  I  entreat  you  to — 

MAX.  I  am  going — I  am  going ;  but  tell  her  I 
think  it  is  true  happiness  that  is  slipping  away 
from  me  forever, — oh,  I  am  going. —  But  don't 
say  that  I  am  too  old,  will  you?  I'm  going — 
don't  say  it — I'm  going —  [Exit  up  R.] 
[Enter  MARTHA  up  L.] 


88  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAR.  [Coughs,  and  then  speaks.]  Your  father 
says  you  wish  to  speak  to  me. 

CLO.  My  father?  [Rises.]  Oh,  no  matter; 
it  is  true,  I  do  wish  to  speak  with  you. —  Come 
here,  my  child, — come  close  to  me — 

MAR.  [After  business.]  How  you  look  at 
me! — and  you  are  pale.  What  is  the  matter 
with  you  ? 

CLO.    You — you — love  him,  then? 

MAR.  [About  to  embrace  Clotilde.}  Clotilde! 
ah,  Clotilda! 

CLO.    [  Withdrawing.  ]    It  is  true,  then  ? 

MAR.    But  who  told  you  ? 

CLO.  You  should  have  told  me.  My  affection 
deserved  your  confidence. —  That  was  not  right, 
White  Mouse — 

MAR.  [Amazed.]  How  unkindly  you  speak  to 
me — 

CLO.  [Quickly.  Sits.]  Yes,  yes,  my  child; 
I  am  wrong, — forgive  me. —  But  why  did  you 
never  say  a  word  to  me? 

MAR.  But  I  did  no*  know  it  myself,  Clotilde, 
— how  could  I  ever  suspect  such  a  thing? 

CLO.  Take  care,  then,  my  child — take  good 
care  that  you  are  sure  now.  There  are  some 
mistakes  that  affect  a  life's  happiness,  as  I  know 
to  my  cost. 

MAR.    Oh,  I  thought  you  would  be  pleased. 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  89 

CLO.  [With  an  effort.}  Come,  come;  tell  me 
what  took  place, — tell  me  all  about  it. 

MAR.    But  there  is  nothing  to  tell — 

CLO.  Then  how  you  do  know  that  you  are  in 
love? 

MAR.  Oh,  I  know  that—it  was  only  yester- 
day— 

CLO.  Yesterday?  Here?  Ah,  I  understand, 
— go  on — 

MAR.  He  had  been  very  cruel  to  me.  More 
teasing  than  ever — even  went  to  the  extent  of 
giving  me  a  doll.  Oh,  I  felt  so  humiliated,  and  so 
angry,  too — that  in  the  end  I  rebelled. —  I  can't 
remember  the  exact  words  I  used,  but  I  was  very 
severe,  I  assure  you, — for  I  was  determined  to 
be  some  one  of  importance  in  his  eyes,  and  not 
the  miserable  dependent  he  believed  me, — and 
then,  Clotilda,  when  I  had  spoken,  a  change  came 
—and  I  saw,  oh,  quite  clearly! — he  could  do  with 
me  as  he  liked — for  my  anger  was  only  love — 
my  sorrow  nothing  but  love — indeed  I  saw — I 
saw  I  loved  him  altogether. 

CLO.    But  he — he — what  did  he  say  to  you  ? 

MAR.  I  don't  know, — I  only  recollect  that  his 
eyes  embraced  me, — his  smile  caressed,  and  his 
voice  seemed  to  pierce  my  heart. —  O  Clotilde, 
do  you  think  he  loves  me  ? 

CLO.    Did  he  tell  you  so  ? — 

MAR.    Oh,  no, — how  frightened  I  should  have 


90  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

been  if  he  had, — oh,  and  delighted  too ! —  Think 
of  it !  To  be  loved  by  him — he  is  good — so  brave 
— so  far  above  all  other  men. 

CLO.     How  do  you  know  that? 

MAR.  Why,  you  told  me  so  yourself. —  O 
Clotilde,  if  he  does  not  love  me  I  feel  that  I 
should  die. 

CLO.    Do  you  really  think  love  kills  ? 

MAR.    Oh,  Clotilde! 

CLO.  It  does  not  kill,  my  child, — but  it  causes 
cruel  pain,  and  so  I  warn  you  to  take  care. — 
He  has  said  nothing  definite  to  you  yet,  and  even 
when  he  has,  who  knows  but  he  may  come  next 
week — next  day — and  say — 

MAR.    He  does  not  love  me  ? 

CLO.    [Quickly.]    Ah,  I  did  not  say  that. 

MAR.  You  would  not  speak  so  if  there  was 
no  cause.  I  feel  by  your  words  you  wish  me  to 
love  him  no  more.  I  have  always  obeyed  you, 
Mama, — tell  me  what  I  must  do,  and  I  will  do  it. 
[Bursts  Into  tears.] 

CLO.  [Embracing  her.]  My  darling, — my 
love, — my  child, — my  precious  heart, — my  whole 
life, — my  White  Mouse, — marry  him.  Yes,  you 
love  him, — and  it  is  I  who  have  always  wished  it, 
— and  wish  it  still.- —  Do  you  hear? — I  wish  it, — 
I  wish  it, — I  wish  it. 

MAR.     [Astonished.]    But — 
•  CLO.    [Rapidly.]   Yes,  he  is  good, — he  is  loyal, 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  91 

— he  is  superior  to  every  one  I  know, — and  he 
loves  you, — he  loves  you,  I  am  sure.  Oh,  why 
are  you  surprised  ?  Don't  you  think  a  man  could 
love  you?  You,  all  beauty,  simplicity  and  youth, 
— ah !  triumphant  youth !  [Hides  her  face  in  her 
hands  and  bursts  into  tears.] 

MAR.    Then  why  are  you  ? — 

CLO.  [Drying  her  eyes.]  The  first  surprise, 
— that  is  all. —  Kiss  me,  my  child.  Now  I  am 
as  happy  as  you  are. —  Tell  me  you  are  happy, 
— it  will  do  me  so  much  good, — so  much  good — 

MAR.  Oh,  yes —  [Sees  Max  off.]  Here  he 
is.  [Runs  back  down  L.] 

CLO.  Oh,  I  did  not  doubt  he  would  soon  be 
back —  [Martha  going.]  Where  are  you  going? 

MAR.  Oh,  I  can't  stay  now,  —  I  shouldn't 
dare — 

CLO.  Why  not,  since  he  loves  you — ah !  he  is 
more  frightened  than  you  are — stay  and  comfort 
him. —  It  is  my  place  to  go. 

MAR.  But  what  shall  I  say  to  him?  What 
shall  I  do? 

CLO.     Follow  the  dictates  of  your  heart,  my 
child;  for  the  dictates  of  a  pure  heart  are  the 
surest  gwdes  to  peace —    [Goes  up.] 
[Enter  MAX.] 

MAX.     [To  Clotilde.]    I  have  reflected— 

CLO.    Ah!— 

MAX.    Yes,  after  all,  I  should  prefer  to  speak 


92  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

to  her  myself, — if  it  is  all  the  same  to  you,- 
cause — in  fact  I  think  it  would  be  much  better, — 
understand  ? 

CLO.  [Going  out.]  Certainly,  my  friend, — I 
understand. 

MAX.  You  do  think  so,  eh?  Knowing 
exactly  what  has  passed  between  us,  it  will  be 
so  much  easier  for  me  than  for  you  to  explain — 
to  make  her  understand — 

CLO.    The  language  of  reason,  eh? 

MAX.  Exactly. —  Yes,  I  think  so, —  think 
so — 

MAR.    What  can  they  be  talking  about? 

MAX.  Indeed,  it  seems  to  me  a  matter  of  eti- 
quette, and  only  right,  that  she  should  learn  from 
myself  the  reason, — the  scruples  that  prevent 
my  marrying  her. —  For  I  can't  marry  her, — 
;can  I? — in  that  we  are  agreed? 

CLO.  In  that,  as  in  everything  else.  Now  go 
to  her,  and  have  courage.  [Going.] 

MAX.  It  isn't  a  question  of  courage.  [Pulling 
her  back.]  O  Clotilde,  you  didn't  tell  her  I  was 
—hem ! — too — old— eh  ? 

CLO.    Set  your  mind  at  rest. 

MAX.  [With  effusion.]  Ah,  Clotilde,  how 
good  you  are! — you  are  really  too  good — too 
good! 

CLO.  I  belong  to  the  Sisterhood,  my  friend. 
[Exit.} 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  c3 

[MAX  walks  up  and  doum  at  back,  rery 
much  preoccupied.} 

MAR.    [To  herself.}     "Follow  the  dictates  of 
[my  own  heart,"  she  said. —    Oh,  but  what  good 
is  that — if  he  loves  me  ? 

MAX.  [To  himself.}  It's  breaking  the  ice 
[that's  difficult. 

MAR.     [Aside.}     Oh,  I  am  so  frightened! 

MAX.  [Looking  at  her.  Aside.}  Poor  child! — 
;for  her  real  happiness,  I'll  do  it —  [Aloud.} 
\  Hem  !— 

MAR.  [Sits  sofa  down  L.}  Why  does  he  say 
nothing  to  me?  I  wonder  if  he  is  as  Clotilde 
said — afraid.  How  wrong  of  him ! — 

MAX.     [Resolutely.}     Mademoiselle  Martha — 

MAR.  "Mademoiselle"?  Why  "Mademoi- 
selle"? [Rises,  crosses  up  C.]  Why  not  Mar- 
tha— or  White  Mouse,  if  you  prefer  it — .  I  do 
I — Are  we  not  friends  now  ? — 

MAX.  [Warmly.]  Friends?  Oh,  yes, — and, 
for  my  part,  I  hope  you  will  always  believe  I  am 
your  sincere,  sincere  friend.  It  seems  so  natural 
to  love  you,  my  dear  child,  and  I  swear  to  you 
that  my  heart —  [Stopping, — aside.]  Hum ! — 
that's  not  it, — not  it  at  all, — not  it  at  all. 

MAR.  [Aside.]  What  is  the  matter  with  him 
todav? 

MAX.  [Decidedly.]  If  you  please,  Mademoi- 
selle— 


94  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAR.    What!    Again?     [Steps  down.] 

MAX.  Do  you  not  wish  us  to  talk  reasonably 
to  each  other? 

MAR.  Reasonably?  [Aside.]  Ah!  he  is  no 
longer  the  same. 

MAX.  [Wavering.]  That  which  Clotilde  was 
saying  to  you  just  now — 

MAR.    Clotilde? 

MAX.  [Feigning*]  Yes ;  has  she  said  nothing 
to  you  regarding  her  project  for  me?  Oh,  it's 
not  of  much  interest  for  you — and  it's  so  extrava- 
gant.—  If  it  had  not  arisen  with  her — ha ! — ha ! 
— ha! — I  should  really  laugh — because — because 
— ah,  dear  Clotilde ! — she  wants  to  marry  me  to 
some  one — think  of  that ! — 

MAR.     [Lowering  her  eyes.]     Oh — 

MAX.  Yes — yes —  [Aside.]  Not  a  very  good 
beginning,  but  the  best  I  can  think  of —  [Aloud.] 
Yes,  actually  to  marry  me — me! — ha! — ha! — 
ha!— 

MAR.  [Aside.]  How  "can  he  speak  like  that? 
I  was  not  to  be  happy  for  long — 

MAX.  I  have  always  said  to  her,  "This  dream 
that  you  are  planning  for  me,  Clotilde," — for  it 
is  nothing  but  a  dream, — I  should  never  dare 
to  raise  my  thoughts  or  hopes  so  high  as — 
[Aside  f  recovering  himself.]  Hum!  that's  hard- 
ly what  I  meant  to  say —  [Aloud.]  I  said  to 
her,  "She  whom  you  destine  for  me  is  separated 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  95 

from  me  by  differences  of  various  kinds, — for 
instance,  of  character,— of  nature, — and — and — 
even  of  age. —  Oh,  she  is  not  a  child, — that  I 
know  well. —  She  is  older  than  she  looks, — very 
much  older, — but  to  be  a  wife  for  me, — think  of 
it !— for  me  ?  O  Heaven !"—  [Pulls  himself  up.] 

MAR.  [Slowly.]  Then  you  do  not  think  her 
worthy  of  you,  Monsieur  Max  ? 

MAX.    Ah,  it  is  I  who  am  unworthy  of  her — 

MAR.  [Slowly.]  You  do  not  love  her,  Mon- 
sieur Max. 

MAX.  I  do — I  do— I  mean —  I  did  not  say 
I  did  not  love  her — I  did  not  explain  myself 
clearly — I  was  too  matter-of-fact —  [Tenderly.] 
Let  us  both  be  matter-of-fact. —  I  am  not  old,  it 
is  true,  but  in  ten  years — so  reflect  on  that — in 
ten  years'  time  I — I  shall  be  ten  years  older — 

MAR.     [Timidly.]    And  so  will  she — 

MAX.  And  so  will  she, — but  that  is  hardly  the 
same  thing — because  ten  years  hence  I — I  shall 
be — hem! —  At  present  I  am  thirty — perhaps 
thirty-three — 

MAR.    [Aside  joyfully.]    What  a  fib! 

MAX.    And  she  is  only  nineteen — 

MAR.    Twenty — 

MAX.  [Understanding  the  fib.  Aside.]  Twenty, 
— ah,  the  darling!  how  she  loves  me!  [Aloud.] 
Ah,  my  dear  child,  do  not  unnerve  me, — I  have 
need  of  all  my  courage, — for  all  this  is  nothing 


96  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

but  a  delicious  dream  that  it  would  be  unmanly 
and  unwise  to  transform  into  reality. 

MAR.  [With  a  sob.]  You  do  not  love  her, 
Monsieur  Max. 

MAX.  I  swear  to  you  I  :could  not  give  her  a 
greater  proof  of  my  love— -of  my  affect — of  my 
friendship — than  I  am  doing  now  at  this  mo- 
ment. I  swear  that — I  swear  it  to  you —  [She 
hides  her  face  in  her  hands.]  Mademoiselle 
— Martha — White  Mouse — my  dear  little  White 
Mouse — can't  you  understand — can't  you  under- 
stand— not  to  sacrifice  her — I  am  sacrificing  my- 
self? 

MAR.    You  do  not  love  her. 

MAX.  Indeed — indeed  you  must  not  say  that. 
— It's  my  experience,  and  not  my  heart,  cries 
"Halt!" —  If  you  could  only  understand — that 
she  is  my  first  romance,  and  my  last  glimpse  of 
departing  joy — that  she  is  here — close  to  me — 
by  my  side — and  to  touch  her  I  have  only  to 
extend  my  hand —  [Martha  puts  her  hand  into 
his.] 

MAR.    And  then  ? — 

MAX.  What  then? — then — for  good  or  ill — I 
— I  love  you — 

MAR.  [Withdrawing  her  hand  and  putting  it 
on  her  heart.]  Ah,  what  happiness ! 

MAX.  Oh,  it's  too  much.  It's  too  much, — 
I  can  resist  it  no  longer, — I  am  as  weak, — as 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  97 

weak  as  you;  —  but  whatever  the  future  may 
bring,  I  can  always  look  back  to  this  day,  to  this 
hour,  and  find  in  it  a  Mecca  for  my  soul. —  I 
love  you! — I  love  you! — I  love  you! —  Look 
at  me — it  is  now  my  turn  to  tremble — it  is  I  who 
am  crying  now. —  How  grateful  I  am  to  you 
for  allowing  me  to  love  you! — how  happy  I  am 
to  tell  you  so! — to  dare  to  tell  you  so! 

MAR.    [With  delight.}   Monsieur  Max! 

MAX.  Ah,  not  Monsieur  Max  now— call  me 
Max — and  say  you  love  me — 

MAR.     [Very  low.}    Yes — 

MAX.  No,  no,  not  like  that — It  will  make  me 
so  happy  if  you  will  say,  "Max,  I  love  you!" — 
Repeat  it  after  me — now — "Max" — 

MAR.    "Max"— 

MAX.    "I  love  you"— 

MAR.    "I" — oh,  I  dare  not. 

MAX.  Martha — come  Martha — my  darling, 
my  sweetheart — I  ask  you  on  my  knees  to, — "I 
loves — 

MAR.    "I—I  love  you"— 

MAX.    Ah,  my  dearest — my  darling — my  lit- 
tle White  Mouse — my  wife — my  very  own — you 
love  me — and  I — I  adore  you — 
[Enter  CLOTILDE.] 

MAR.  But  Clotilde— where  is  Clotilde  all  this 
time? 

CLO.    Forgotten. 


98  TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH 

MAR.    Ah,  no  j  never ! 

MAX.  [To  Clotilde.]  I  intended  to  make  a 
stubborn  defense — but —  [Pointing  to  Martha.} 
Look  there — 

CLO.  I  knew  it  could  end  no  other  way.  From 
the  first  she  knew  you  loved  her. 

MAX.    She  knew?    How? 

CLO.      I  told  her. 

MAX.  Oh !  [Max  looks  at  Martha,  who  lowers 
her  eyes.] 

CLO.  And  you  knew  perfectly  well  she  loved 
you. 

MAR.     He  knew  ?    How  ? 

CLO.  He  found  your  sketch-book — and  this 
letter. 

[Enter  MOISAND,  with  telegram,  up  L.] 

Mois.  [In  great  flurry.]  A  dozen  times,  at 
least,  Clotilde,  I  asked  you  the  cause  of  your 
absence — and  what  has  happened.  And  now  I 
learn  it  from  the  lawyer.  But  why  did  you  seek 
to  hide  the  good  news, — why  ? 

[Enter  HERMINE  up  R.,  and  PEPA  up  L., 
during  speech.] 

MAX,  MAR.,  HER.  and  PEPA.  What  is  it? — 
what  is  the  matter? 

Mois.    [Showing  telegram.]    She  is  a  widow. 

HER.  and  PEPA.  A  widow?  Why  did  you 
not  tell  us  ? 

Mois.     Why? 


TRIUMPH  OF  YOUTH  99 

CLO.  I  did  not  wish  to  cloud  the  joy  of  the 
happy  ones. 

PEPA.    The  joy? 

HER.    The  happy  ones  ? 

Mois.    Which  happy  ones? 

CLO.  Oh,  I  forgot;  you  do  not  know  yet. 
Monsieur  de  Simiers  is  about  to  be  married. 

PEPA  and  HER.  [Looking  at  each  other.] 
With  whom  ? 

CLO.  This  is  his  fiancee.  [Taking  Martha's 
hand.] 

PEPA.  [Looking  at  H ermine.]  Well,  at  any 
rate,  it's  not  you. 

HER.    [Looking  at  Pepa.]    Nor  you — 

Mois.  Martha,  —  that  child,  —  the  White 
Mouse  ? — 

CLO.     [To  Martha.]    Are  you  happy? 

MAR.    Oh,  yes,  Mama — 

CLO.  [About  to  embrace  her.]  My  little 
daughter — 

[MOISAND  joins  R.t  HERMINE  and  PEPA.] 

MAX.  [Interrupting  and  taking  Martha  to  his 
arms.]  My  little  wife!  My  little  White  Mouse! 
[CURTAIN.] 


B+Jtll. 


PQ2380 
P2S62 


M510529 


